At first glance, this work might appear closer to a difficult academic quiz than the latest popular music album from a musician who just had a previous single was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Split into four separate sections and performed in thirteen tongues, we have a dizzying classical-tinged opus exploring feminine mystery, spiritual transcendence, and physical transformation, frequently by way of the perspective of different women saints. The dissolution of a love affair—a theme treated with raw openness on another major 2025 album—is shot skyward here, buoyed by the constant presence of a major symphony orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within a long list of contributors. Its sheer ambition alone makes the work of contemporary artists seem rather modest.
Transcending Academic Pretense
The fact that this album succeeds in transcend overly academic chin-stroking is nearly miraculous, with sole credit belonging to the artist. While it's not the first time project to blend historical sounds with modern styles, the stakes are much greater here, with the balancing act more precarious. What truly raises this fourth album, outside of its multilayered tunes, dense compositions, and inherent theatricality, proves to be an essential spirit of playfulness. Similar to the legendary artist during her height, there is a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing which sweeps the listener into its whirlwind. When she's tearing hearts apart, the listener nevertheless desire to stay alongside her through the ride.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This exuberant energy shines clearly on the stunning piano-led ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It bathes in a string-drenched whirlpool for more than four minutes. Suddenly, everything falls away, to reveal we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a declaration prior to a hilariously over-the-top string crescendo thuds down like cartoonish force. The song immediately shifts into the wild track driven by racing strings, an imposing choir, and a cameo appearance from none other than herself.
"The charm of Lux lies in you never quite understand—or even wish to know—what it will go next."
Almost each track concludes at a completely distinct place from where it began. One moment examines the fleeting trappings of celebrity over a delicate orchestration only to collapsing in electronic chaos. Another, a song echoing her previous rhythmic style begins off moody and brooding, with prowling beats, until fluttering traditional rhythms and an angelic choir enter to soften its jagged edges.
The Balance Of Experiment & Accessibility
Another crucial achievement on the album is navigating the gap of radical innovation and broad appeal. This is little coincidence that it has become the artist's first release to crack the upper reaches of key charts: at its core a suite of truly catchy pop songs. One track sung entirely in the English language builds on a chorus that seems to gather increasingly nagging melodies while it spirals skyward. This feat gets repeated on another powerful track that expands and constricts, weaving layered tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused song charms via its jaunty, theatrical drama and a chant-along hook.
- In its words, it shares the cultural honesty of contemporary breakup anthems, eviscerating a former partner described as an "psychological terrorist".
- Throughout these tracks, the singing carry a painted-on smile, like a storybook figure hiding a knife: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You've won the trophy of letdown."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
This album represents pop on a grand level, an ambitious reach for capital-A artistry in an era of looming artificial blankness. It eschews solipsism in favor of sublime elevation, creating an over-the-top drama that skillfully manages its built-in ridiculousness. This is a deep well of hidden treasure that requires patience to completely explore but never feels like a chore. Where other big releases of the year seemed like a meager meal, this record offers a lavish banquet where the guests at it, some tipsy on sacred wine, flit between discussions about ancient figures, the profound sensation of heartbreaking grief, and shared gossip about hopeless partners. It is a modern-day theatrical production from pop's most restlessly inventive practitioner.
