Album Review: ‘The Loneliest Time’ by Carly Rae Jepsen

My review of the 2022 album

Up until a couple of months ago, if anyone had asked me to name some of Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit songs, the only one I would have been able to name with certainty would have been “Call Me Maybe,” which was the song that made her a superstar back in 2012. I’ve always liked that one a lot.

I recently discovered that I actually also knew a couple of her other hits — “Good Time” and “I Really Like You.” I liked them both well enough the few times I heard them when they were new releases, but I had no idea they were by Carly Rae Jepsen.

In other words, no one would go out of their way to call me a “superfan” of Carly Rae Jepsen. I’m a middle-aged guy who listens to a lot of rock music and a lot of music from the 1970s and 1980s. I had nothing against Carly Rae Jepsen, but I’m not part of her “target audience” and I didn’t actively follow her career.

However, in September 2022, I discovered what was her then-recently released single, “Talking To Yourself.” I liked it a lot and played it multiple times over the following weeks. I learned that it was going to be on her next album, The Loneliest Time, which would be released on October 21, 2022.

Since I enjoyed that single, I told myself to listen to the new album when it was released. However, the album ended up being released on the same day that Taylor Swift’s new album, Midnights, was released. I got wrapped up in that album and a few other ones and I kind of forgot all about The Loneliest Time.

However, a week or so later, I read a discussion online between two of my fellow music-loving fellow writers, Kevin Alexander and Bob Merckel. In it, they were both raving about how much they liked Cary Rae Jepsen’s new album. Because I trust them both, I instantly gave The Loneliest Time a listen.

And then another listen.

And then again. And again.

Right from the first listen, I liked it a lot. Since then, I’ve played the album several times and I can honestly say that there’s not a song on it that I don’t like.

Here are some of my favorites from it:

Sideways

This is a little slower than most of the songs on the album, but I wouldn’t quite classify it as a “ballad” or a “slow song.” It’s a very cool “pop” song with great music and vocals!

To me, it has sort of an “old school” vibe to it. It sounds kind of like a song Janet Jackson or Paula Abdul might have recorded in the 80s or 90s.

So Nice

This song had me hooked right from the first time I heard it. It has a wonderful, fun beat and very catchy vocals (especially the “la la la la la” parts.)

The Loneliest Time (featuring Rufus Wainwright)

This is currently my favorite song on the album. There are exceptional vocals here from both Carly Rae Jepsen and Rufus Wainwright. Each of them sounds wonderful when they sing individually, but when they sing together…well…there’s something extra-special about it. Their harmonies are outstanding.

The music, the lyrics, the vocals — they all go together perfectly here. The songwriters and producer of this song did an amazing job.

The Loneliest Time album has been a very nice surprise for me and it’s very quickly become one of my favorite albums of 2022.

Out of 5 possible stars, I give it…drumroll, please…4 and 1/2 stars!

NOTE: This album is #72 in a ‘100 New-To-Me Albums in 2022’ challenge I’m participating in. Please click here if you’d like to see my complete list of the albums.

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