At first glance, this album might appear more like a challenging academic quiz than the latest pop project from a musician whose previous hit was a collaboration with an international K-pop icon. Broken into four different parts and performed in thirteen tongues, we have a head-spinning classical-tinged work exploring female mystery, religious transcendence, and corporal change, frequently by way of the lens of different women saints. The end of a relationship—a topic treated with raw honesty on another major 2025 album—soars upwards on this record, supported by the constant sound of a major orchestra and input from a Pulitzer-winning composer among an extensive list of contributors. Its sheer ambition alone renders the efforts of contemporary pop stars seem quite laughable.
Transcending Scholarly Pretense
The fact that this album succeeds in transcend overly academic chin-stroking is nearly miraculous, and full credit belonging to Rosalía. While it's not the first time album to blend historical sounds and modern styles, its stakes are far greater here, and the tightrope walk more dramatic. The element that truly raises this fourth album, outside of its complex tunes, dense arrangements, and inherent theatricality, proves to be a core sense of joy. Similar to the iconic Björk during her peak, there is a wondrous sense to Rosalía's singing which sweeps the listener up in its tornado. When she is tearing your heart apart, the listener nevertheless desire to stay alongside her for the journey.
A Prime Moment of Exuberance
This exuberant energy comes forth brightly on a stunning Italian ballad inspired by a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool for several moments. Suddenly, everything drops away, to reveal we hear a gleeful giggle followed by a declaration prior to a comically exaggerated string crescendo crashes in like comedic impact. The track immediately segues into the frenetic single driven by racing strings, an imposing choral group, and a cameo role from none other than herself.
"The charm with Lux lies in you rarely quite know—or even want to know—where it will go to next."
Almost every track ends in a completely distinct point than where it began. One moment explores the fleeting trappings of celebrity with a delicate orchestration only to collapsing in digital chaos. Another, a cut that recalls the artist's earlier rhythmic work begins out moody and sinister, with prowling vocals, before sudden flamenco handclaps and a heavenly chorus arrive to smooth its jagged edges.
The Bridge Of Experiment and Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act of the album involves navigating the line between bold innovation and mainstream accessibility. It is little coincidence that it has become her first work to break into the upper reaches of major markets: at its core a collection of truly catchy pop songs. A song performed entirely in English builds around a chorus that feels to gather more and more nagging melodies as it spins skyward. That feat is echoed by another powerful track that expands and constricts, weaving layered melodies as a complex tapestry.
- A waltz-like number seduces with its playful, Disney-adjacent flair and an anthemic hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns with cultural honesty of other heartbreak anthems, lambasting an ex- partner described as an "emotional terrorist".
- Throughout the album, the singing carry a sharp smile, akin to a storybook figure hiding a knife: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You've the podium of disappointment."
A Maximalist Feast for the Ears
This album represents popular music on a maximalist level, a hungry grasp for high Art in an era of looming artificial blankness. It eschews self-absorption in favor of sublime elevation, creating an over-the-top drama that masterfully controls its own built-in ridiculousness. This is an abundant source of hidden gems that requires patience to fully mine but never seem like hard work. Where other major releases of the year seemed like feasting on scraps, Lux offers a sumptuous banquet at which the guests at the table, some intoxicated on holy wine, flit between discussions about ancient figures, the profound feeling of soul-shattering grief, and common stories about useless men. It is a contemporary musical from music's most endlessly creative visionary.
