On the surface, this album may look more like a difficult academic quiz than the latest pop record from a musician whose last single featured an international K-pop star. Broken into four distinct sections and performed in 13 languages, this is a dizzying classical-tinged work that delves into feminine mystique, religious transcendence, and physical transformation, frequently via the lens of various saintly figures. The end of a romance—a topic handled with grounded openness on another major 2025 album—soars heavenward here, buoyed by the constant sound of a major symphony orchestra and input from an award-winning composer among a long roll call of contributors. The pure ambition alone renders the work of contemporary artists appear quite small.
Rising Above Scholarly Pretense
That this album manages to transcend overly intellectual posturing is nothing short of miraculous, and sole praise going to Rosalía. Although it's not her first project to alchemize the past and modern styles, its stakes feel much greater here, and the balancing act far more precarious. The element that truly elevates this fourth release, beyond its complex melodies, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, is a core sense of joy. Similar to the iconic Björk at her height, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's singing which sweeps the listener into its tornado. When she's tearing hearts in two, you still want to stay alongside her through the journey.
A Prime Example of Exuberance
This exuberant energy shines clearly during the stunning Italian song about Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over several minutes. Then, all the music drops away, to reveal we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a declaration before a hilariously over-the-top string crescendo crashes in with comedic force. The song then segues into the frenetic track driven by galloping orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a surprise role from none other than herself.
"The charm with this album is that the listener rarely quite understand—nor want to predict—where you is going to next."
Almost every song ends at a totally different place than where it began. A track examines the transient nature of celebrity with a featherlight orchestration before disintegrating in digital chaos. Elsewhere, a song echoing the artist's previous trap-infused style begins out dark and brooding, featuring prowling vocals, until fluttering traditional handclaps and an angelic chorus enter to soften its rough edges.
The Bridge Between Experiment and Pop
A key achievement of Lux is straddling the gap between radical innovation and mainstream appeal. This is no surprise that the album has become the artist's first work to break into the Top 5 of major markets: its heart contains a collection of truly undeniable pop songs. One track sung entirely in English builds on a chorus that feels to collect increasingly nagging melodies as it spins skyward. That feat gets repeated on another expansive track that grows and constricts, intertwining layered tunes like a complex weave.
- A waltz-like song charms with its jaunty, Disney-adjacent drama and a chant-along chorus.
- Lyrically, it aligns the cultural impact of other heartbreak songs, eviscerating an ex- lover labeled an "emotional terrorist".
- Across the album, the singing carry a painted-on smile, akin to a storybook character hiding a blade: "Gold medal in acting like a scoundrel / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Banquet for the Soul
Lux is popular music on a grand level, a hungry reach for capital-A Art in an era of looming AI-generated sameness. It rejects solipsism in favor of sublime elevation, creating an over-the-top drama that skillfully manages its inherent ridiculousness. This is a deep well of buried gems that takes patience to completely explore but never feels like hard work. Where some big pop albums of the year felt like feasting on meal, this record is a sumptuous feast where the guests around the table, some intoxicated on holy drink, flit between conversations about ancient figures, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and shared gossip about useless men. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from pop's truly restlessly inventive visionary.
