At first glance, this album might appear closer to an arduous university challenge than a new pop record from a musician who just had a previous single featured an international pop icon. Split into four distinct movements and voiced in 13 tongues, this is a dizzying symphonic work that delves into female mystery, religious ascent, and corporal change, frequently by way of the prism of different saintly figures. The end of a love affair—a theme handled with grounded honesty on another major 2025 album—soars skyward here, supported by the constant presence of a full symphony orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning composer within a long roll call of contributors. The pure audacity alone makes the work of contemporary artists look rather modest.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
The fact that Lux succeeds in avoid overly intellectual chin-stroking is nearly miraculous, with sole credit belonging to Rosalía. Although it's not the first time album to fuse historical sounds with the present, the ambitions are far greater on Lux, with the balancing act more precarious. The element that truly elevates her fourth release, outside of its complex melodies, rich compositions, and inherent theatricality, is a core spirit of playfulness. Much like the legendary Björk during her height, there is a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing which sweeps you up in its tornado. When she is tearing hearts apart, you still desire to be alongside her for the ride.
A Signature Moment of Joy
This exuberant energy comes forth clearly during the stunning Italian song about Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a string-drenched melancholy for several moments. Then, all the music drops away, to reveal we hear a gleeful laugh followed by a comment before a comically over-the-top orchestral surge thuds down with comedic impact. The track then segues into the frenetic track featuring racing strings, an imposing choral group, and a surprise role from none other than Björk.
"The charm with this album lies in the listener rarely quite know—or even want to know—what you will go to next."
Almost each track ends in a totally distinct place than how it started. One moment explores the fleeting nature of fame over a delicate orchestration only to collapsing in digital cacophony. Another, a cut echoing her earlier rhythmic work begins out dark and brooding, featuring menacing vocals, until fluttering flamenco handclaps and a heavenly choir enter to soften its jagged edges.
The Balance Between Art and Pop
Another crucial achievement on Lux involves straddling the line between radical experimentation and broad appeal. It is no coincidence that the album has become the artist's first release to crack the Top 5 of major charts: at its core a collection of truly undeniable pop songs. A song sung primarily in the English language swells around a refrain that seems to gather increasingly infectious melodies as it spins skyward. This trick is echoed on another expansive track that grows and constricts, weaving multiple tunes like an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like number charms via its playful, theatrical flair and an anthemic chorus.
- Lyrically, it aligns with pop culture impact of other heartbreak songs, eviscerating an ex- lover described as an "emotional bully".
- Across the album, the singing carry a painted-on edge, like a storybook character concealing a knife: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You've the podium of letdown."
A Maximalist Banquet for the Soul
Lux is pop on a maximalist level, a hungry reach for capital-A artistry in an era of looming AI-generated blankness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of glorious elevation, creating an over-the-top drama that skillfully controls its inherent ridiculousness. It is an abundant well of buried gems that requires patience to fully explore but doesn't feels like a chore. Where some major releases of the year seemed like a meager meal, this record is a sumptuous banquet at which the characters at it, perhaps intoxicated on holy drink, flit from conversations about historical saints, the galvanizing sensation of soul-shattering grief, and shared stories about useless partners. It is a modern-day theatrical production from pop's most restlessly inventive visionary.
