At first glance, Lux could seem more like a difficult scholarly quiz rather than the latest popular music album by an artist whose last hit featured an international pop icon. Divided across 4 separate sections and performed in 13 languages, this is a dizzying classical-tinged work that delves into feminine mystery, spiritual ascent, and bodily change, frequently through the prism of various saintly figures. The end of a romance—a theme treated with raw honesty elsewhere—soars upwards here, buoyed by the constant sound of a major orchestra and contributions from a Pulitzer-winning composer among a vast list of collaborators. The pure ambition alone makes the work of other artists seem quite modest.
Rising Above Academic Exercise
The fact that this album manages to avoid overly intellectual chin-stroking feels almost miraculous, and sole praise belonging to Rosalía. Although this is not her first project to alchemize the past and modern styles, the ambitions feel far greater on Lux, with the balancing act more dramatic. What really elevates her fourth album, outside of its multilayered tunes, dense compositions, and inherent drama, is a core spirit of playfulness. Similar to the iconic Björk during her peak, there is a wondrous quality to Rosalía's voice which sweeps the listener into its tornado. Even when she is breaking hearts apart, you nevertheless want to be alongside her through the journey.
A Prime Moment of Joy
That exuberant energy shines brightly on the stirring Italian ballad inspired by Saint Clare. It luxuriates in a sorrowful whirlpool over several minutes. Then, everything falls away, and we hear a spontaneous laugh followed by a comment before a comically exaggerated orchestral surge thuds down like comedic force. The song then segues into the wild single driven by galloping orchestration, an imposing choral group, and a cameo appearance from the artist herself.
"The magic with Lux lies in you never exactly know—nor wish to predict—what you is going next."
Almost every song ends at a totally different place than where it began. One moment explores the transient trappings of celebrity over a delicate orchestration before collapsing in digital cacophony. Another, a song that recalls her previous trap-infused style begins off dark and sinister, with prowling beats, before sudden traditional rhythms and a heavenly choir arrive to smooth its jagged edges.
The Balance Between Experiment & Pop
Another crucial balancing act on the album is navigating the line of bold innovation and broad appeal. This is no surprise that the album has achieved the artist's first work to break into the upper reaches of major charts: at its core a suite of utterly undeniable hits. One track performed entirely in English builds on a refrain that seems to collect increasingly infectious melodies while it spins upward. That trick is echoed on a different powerful ballad that expands and constricts, intertwining layered tunes as an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused number charms via its playful, Disney-adjacent flair and an anthemic chorus.
- In its words, it shares the pop culture impact of contemporary heartbreak anthems, lambasting a former lover described as an "emotional bully".
- Across these tracks, the vocals carry a sharp edge, like a storybook character hiding a knife: "Top prize in being a scoundrel / You have the podium of disappointment."
An Opulent Feast for the Soul
Lux is popular music on a maximalist scale, an ambitious reach for capital-A artistry in an era of looming artificial blankness. It eschews solipsism in favor of glorious transcendence, creating a dramatic spectacle that masterfully controls its own built-in ridiculousness. This is a deep well of buried gems that takes patience to fully explore but never feels like hard work. While other major pop albums of 2025 felt like a meager meal, this record offers a sumptuous banquet at which the guests around the table, some intoxicated on sacred wine, flit from conversations about ancient saints, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking grief, and shared gossip about hopeless men. In essence, it's a modern-day musical from pop's most restlessly creative practitioner.
