On the surface, this work may look closer to a difficult academic quiz rather than the latest popular music record from an artist who just had a last single was a collaboration with a global K-pop star. Split into four distinct sections and voiced in 13 tongues, we have a dizzying symphonic album that delves into female mystique, spiritual transcendence, and corporal transformation, often through the lens of different women saints. The dissolution of a romance—a theme treated with raw honesty on another major 2025 album—is shot heavenward here, buoyed by the constant sound of a full orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning composer within a long list of contributors. The pure audacity by itself makes the work of other artists appear rather small.
Rising Above Academic Pretense
The fact that this album succeeds in transcend overly intellectual chin-stroking feels almost a miracle, with sole credit going to Rosalía. While it's not the first time album to fuse historical sounds and the present, the scale feel far greater on Lux, with the balancing act more dramatic. The element that truly raises this fourth release, beyond its multilayered melodies, rich compositions, and inherent theatricality, is a core sense of fun. Much like the iconic Björk at her height, there is a captivating quality to Rosalía's voice that pulls you up in its whirlwind. When she is breaking your heart in two, you still desire to stay alongside her for the ride.
A Signature Example of Joy
That exuberant spirit comes forth clearly on the stirring Italian song about Saint Clare. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool over several minutes. Then, everything falls silent, to reveal we hear a spontaneous giggle and a comment prior to a hilariously exaggerated orchestral surge crashes down with comedic impact. The track then segues to the frenetic track driven by galloping orchestration, a powerful choral group, and a cameo appearance from the artist herself.
"The magic with this album lies in you rarely exactly know—nor wish to know—what you is going to next."
Nearly each track concludes in a completely different place than how it started. One moment explores the fleeting nature of fame over a delicate orchestration only to disintegrating into electronic chaos. Another, a song echoing the artist's earlier rhythmic work starts off moody and sinister, featuring menacing vocals, before sudden flamenco handclaps and an angelic chorus arrive to soften its rough edges.
The Bridge Between Art & Pop
Another crucial balancing act of the album is straddling the gap between bold experimentation and mainstream appeal. This is little surprise that the album has become the artist's highest-charting work to break into the upper reaches of major markets: at its core a suite of truly catchy hits. One track performed primarily in the English language builds around a refrain that seems to gather increasingly nagging melodies as it spirals skyward. This feat gets repeated by another powerful ballad that grows and constricts, intertwining multiple tunes as a complex tapestry.
- A dance-infused number seduces via its jaunty, Disney-adjacent flair and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it shares the cultural impact of other heartbreak anthems, lambasting a former lover described as an "psychological terrorist".
- Across the album, the singing carry a painted-on smile, akin to a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Gold medal in being a scoundrel / You've the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
This album is popular music on a maximalist scale, an ambitious grasp for capital-A artistry in an era of impending artificial blankness. It rejects self-absorption for sublime elevation, creating an over-the-top spectacle that masterfully manages its built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep well of buried treasure that takes time to fully explore but doesn't seem like hard work. While some major releases of the year felt like feasting on scraps, this record is a lavish banquet at which the characters at the table, perhaps tipsy on sacred drink, flutter between conversations about historical figures, the galvanizing feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and shared gossip about useless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary musical from pop's most restlessly inventive practitioner.
