Initially, this album could seem closer to a difficult university challenge than the latest pop album from a musician whose previous hit featured an international pop icon. Split across 4 distinct sections and performed in thirteen languages, it is a breathtaking classical-tinged work exploring feminine mystery, spiritual transcendence, and physical change, frequently via the perspective of different women saints. The end of a romance—a theme treated with raw honesty on another major 2025 album—is shot upwards on this record, buoyed by the constant sound of a full orchestra and work from a Pulitzer-winning composer within an extensive roll call of contributors. Its sheer ambition by itself makes the work of other artists look rather modest.
Rising Above Scholarly Exercise
That Lux manages to escape overly intellectual posturing is nothing short of a miracle, with sole praise belonging to Rosalía. Although this is not the first time project to fuse historical sounds and the present, its ambitions are far greater on Lux, and the balancing act more dramatic. What really elevates this fourth release, beyond its complex melodies, dense compositions, and engrained theatricality, proves to be an essential sense of joy. Similar to the legendary artist during her height, there is a wondrous quality to the vocalist's singing that pulls the listener up in its tornado. When she is tearing hearts in two, the listener still want to be alongside her for the journey.
A Signature Example of Joy
This exuberant spirit shines clearly during a stunning piano-led ballad about a saint. It bathes in a sorrowful whirlpool for several minutes. Suddenly, all the music drops silent, to reveal there's a spontaneous laugh and a declaration before a hilariously over-the-top string surge thuds down like cartoonish force. The song then shifts into the frenetic single driven by galloping strings, an imposing choir, and a cameo role from none other than herself.
"The magic of this album is that you never exactly understand—or even want to know—what it will go to next."
Almost every song finishes in a completely distinct point than where it began. One moment examines the fleeting nature of celebrity with a featherlight orchestration only to collapsing into electronic chaos. Elsewhere, a cut that recalls her earlier rhythmic work begins out moody and brooding, featuring prowling vocals, before fluttering flamenco rhythms and a heavenly chorus arrive to soften the song's rough edges.
The Bridge Between Art and Pop
Another crucial balancing act of the album involves straddling the line of radical innovation and broad appeal. This is no coincidence that the album has achieved the artist's highest-charting work to break into the Top 5 of major charts: its heart contains a collection of utterly catchy hits. A song sung primarily in English builds on a chorus that seems to gather more and more infectious melodies as it spins upward. That feat gets repeated on a different expansive ballad that grows and contracts, intertwining multiple tunes like an intricate tapestry.
- A dance-infused number seduces via its playful, Disney-adjacent drama and a chant-along chorus.
- In its words, it shares with pop culture honesty of other breakup songs, eviscerating an ex- partner described as an "psychological bully".
- Across the album, the vocals have a sharp smile, akin to a fairy-tale character hiding a blade: "Gold medal in being a motherfucker / You've won the trophy of disappointment."
An Opulent Banquet for the Ears
Lux represents popular music on a grand level, an ambitious grasp for high artistry in an era of looming artificial sameness. It rejects solipsism for sublime elevation, crafting a dramatic drama that skillfully manages its built-in ridiculousness. It is a deep source of hidden gems that requires patience to fully explore but doesn't feels like a chore. While other major releases of 2025 felt like feasting on scraps, this record is a lavish feast at which the guests at it, perhaps tipsy on holy wine, flutter from discussions about historical saints, the galvanizing feeling of heartbreaking sadness, and shared gossip about useless men. In essence, it's a modern-day theatrical production from pop's truly restlessly creative visionary.
