At first glance, this work may look more like a difficult academic quiz rather than a new popular music project by an artist whose last single was a collaboration with a global K-pop icon. Split across 4 separate movements and sung in thirteen languages, we have a breathtaking classical-tinged work investigating feminine mystique, religious ascent, and physical transformation, frequently by way of the lens of different saintly figures. The end of a relationship—a topic handled with raw honesty on another major 2025 album—soars upwards here, supported by the lush presence of a full orchestra and work from an award-winning songwriter within a long list of collaborators. Its sheer ambition alone makes the efforts of contemporary pop stars look rather modest.
Transcending Academic Exercise
That Lux manages to transcend overly academic posturing is almost a miracle, with complete praise belonging to Rosalía. While it's not her first project to blend historical sounds with the present, its stakes are much higher on Lux, with the tightrope walk more dramatic. The element that truly raises her fourth album, beyond its multilayered melodies, dense compositions, and inherent drama, proves to be a core spirit of fun. Much like the legendary artist during her peak, there is a captivating sense to Rosalía's voice that pulls the listener up in its whirlwind. Even when she is tearing hearts in two, you still desire to be alongside her for the ride.
A Signature Example of Joy
This exuberant spirit comes forth clearly during a stunning Italian ballad inspired by a saint. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool for several minutes. Suddenly, everything drops silent, to reveal there's a spontaneous giggle followed by a comment before a hilariously exaggerated string crescendo crashes down with comedic force. The song then shifts to the wild single driven by galloping orchestration, an imposing choir, and a cameo appearance from none other than Björk.
"The magic of this album is that you rarely exactly know—nor want to know—what it will go next."
Nearly every track ends in a completely different place from how it started. One moment examines the transient nature of fame over a featherlight orchestration only to collapsing in digital cacophony. Another, a song that recalls the artist's earlier trap-infused work starts off dark and brooding, with prowling vocals, before sudden traditional rhythms and an angelic choir enter to smooth its rough corners.
The Balance Between Art & Pop
A key balancing act of Lux is straddling the line of bold experimentation and mainstream accessibility. This is no surprise that the album has become her first release to crack the Top 5 of key charts: at its core a collection of utterly catchy hits. A song performed entirely in English builds on a refrain that feels to collect more and more nagging hooks while it spirals upward. That trick gets echoed by another powerful track that expands and contracts, intertwining multiple melodies as an intricate tapestry.
- A waltz-like song seduces via its jaunty, theatrical flair and an anthemic hook.
- In its words, it shares with cultural honesty of other breakup songs, eviscerating a former partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Throughout the album, the vocals have a sharp edge, like a fairy-tale figure hiding a knife: "Gold medal in being a motherfucker / You have won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
This album represents popular music on a maximalist level, an ambitious grasp for capital-A Art in an era of impending artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism in favor of glorious elevation, crafting a dramatic spectacle that skillfully manages its inherent ridiculousness. This is an abundant well of hidden gems that takes time to completely explore but never feels like a chore. While other big pop albums of the year seemed like a meager scraps, Lux offers a sumptuous feast where the characters around it, perhaps intoxicated on sacred wine, flit between conversations about historical figures, the galvanizing feeling of soul-shattering sadness, and common gossip about hopeless partners. It is a modern-day theatrical production from music's truly restlessly inventive visionary.
