At first glance, this work may look more like a challenging university examination rather than a new pop project from an artist who just had a last single was a collaboration with an international K-pop star. Broken into 4 distinct movements and sung in 13 tongues, we have a dizzying orchestral-influenced opus exploring female mystique, religious ascent, and physical change, often by way of the prism of different saintly figures. The dissolution of a romance—a topic handled with grounded honesty on another major 2025 album—is shot upwards here, buoyed by the lush sound of a major orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning songwriter within a vast list of contributors. The pure daring alone renders the work of other pop stars look rather modest.
Transcending Scholarly Exercise
That this album manages to transcend dry academic posturing is almost a miracle, with complete praise belonging to the artist. While this is not the first time album to fuse historical sounds with the present, its ambitions feel far higher here, with the balancing act far more pronounced. What really elevates this fourth album, outside of its complex tunes, rich arrangements, and inherent theatricality, is a core sense of fun. Much like the iconic Björk at her height, there is a wondrous quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps you up in its whirlwind. When she's breaking hearts apart, you still want to be alongside her through the ride.
A Signature Moment of Joy
This playful energy comes forth brightly on a stunning piano-led song inspired by Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a string-drenched melancholy for more than four moments. Then, all the music drops away, and there's a gleeful giggle followed by a comment before a comically exaggerated orchestral crescendo thuds in with comedic impact. The song then segues to the frenetic single driven by galloping strings, an imposing choral group, and a cameo role from the artist Björk.
"The charm of Lux is that the listener never exactly know—or even want to predict—what you will go next."
Nearly every track finishes in a totally different point from how it began. A track examines the fleeting trappings of fame over a featherlight symphony only to disintegrating into electronic cacophony. Another, a song that recalls her earlier trap-infused work starts off moody and brooding, with menacing beats, before sudden traditional handclaps and an angelic chorus enter to smooth its rough edges.
The Balance Between Experiment & Accessibility
Another crucial balancing act of Lux involves straddling the gap of bold innovation and mainstream accessibility. This is no surprise that it has achieved the artist's first release to break into the Top 5 of key charts: its heart contains a suite of truly catchy pop songs. One track sung entirely in English builds on a chorus that feels to collect more and more nagging hooks as it spirals upward. That feat is repeated on a different expansive track that expands and constricts, weaving multiple melodies like a complex weave.
- A dance-infused number seduces with its playful, theatrical flair and a chant-along hook.
- Lyrically, it aligns with cultural impact of other heartbreak anthems, lambasting an ex- lover labeled an "emotional terrorist".
- Throughout these tracks, the singing carry a painted-on smile, akin to a fairy-tale character concealing a knife: "Top prize in being a motherfucker / You have the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Banquet for the Soul
This album is popular music on a maximalist scale, an ambitious grasp for high artistry in an era of impending artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism in favor of sublime transcendence, creating an over-the-top drama that masterfully controls its inherent ridiculousness. It is a deep source of hidden gems that requires time to completely explore but doesn't seem like a chore. While other major releases of the year felt like a meager meal, Lux is a sumptuous banquet where the characters at it, perhaps intoxicated on sacred drink, flutter between discussions about ancient figures, the galvanizing sensation of heartbreaking sadness, and common stories about hopeless partners. In essence, it's a contemporary theatrical production from pop's most restlessly creative practitioner.
