'The Loneliest Time' review: Carly Rae Jepsen’s latest album is pop perfection

Canadian singer and songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen performs during Austin City Limits Festival at Zilker Park on October 7, 2022. – Photo: AFP

Dating in the 21st century might be a lonely time, but Carly Rae Jepsen has found a way to make an album around those experiences that’s as bright and hopeful as it is grounded. From the euphoric Sideways to the heartbreak of Go Find Yourself Or Whatever, on her sixth studio album, The Loneliest Time, the 36-year-old makes one thing clear: It’s rough out there in the dating world.

While the themes of The Loneliest Time are timeless, there’s a specificity to the experiences that reflect the modern age. Jepsen’s second single from the album, Beach House, is the best example of this. The kitschy song mirrors the experience of endless scrolling on dating apps.