This is the latest full-length album from New Jersey pop artist Charlie Puth, who you may remember I looked at before with his 2016 debut album “Nine Track Mind.” The album was home to some high-charting singles like “Marvin Gaye,” “One Call Away,” and “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” but it definitely received some very negative critical reviews. At the time I had written my review for the album (back in October), it was the 15th worst-reviewed album in Metacritic’s history. That distinction still stands at the time of THIS writing and given some of the comments I’ve seen from him, it felt a bit like he reciprocated those feelings to an extent. However, instead of taking time to reflect on that, Charlie spent 2017 dropping two more high-charting singles as leadoffs to this record, those being “Attention” and “How Long,” which have peaked at #5 and #21, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100 thus far (“Attention” actually hit #22 on the Year-End Hot 100 for 2017).
Now, if you recall, I was admittedly a bit more forgiving towards “Nine Track Mind” than most, and while I get that a lot of people disliked it for being “so inoffensive that it WAS offensive,” I did admittedly take some tracks away from it and really enjoy them (though, that may have been helped by the fact that the Deluxe Edition’s tracks helped save it). Still, even in that review, I was conflicted on whether the album was deserving of a “bad” or an “okay” (I settled on the latter, and admittedly I don’t regret it too much), and under normal circumstances, you may think I wouldn't be all that excited to listen to this album. However, I have to admit, I’m cautiously optimistic this time around, as “Attention” and “How Long” have become singles I’ve absolutely adored. So, given that this album seems to be taking things in a different direction, I was relatively interested in giving it a shot. Let’s see how it turns out, shall we?
The Way I Am: Well, already this is much different from Charlie’s other music! A very groovy track with a really great guitar melody, Charlie talks on this track about how he is going to be exactly who he is, regardless of whether or not people love him or hate him. And I have to say, Charlie seemed to believe this track could “irritate” people, but I don’t see what he’s talking about, because it’s just too infectious and fun to be irritable! Of course, if he releases this as a single and the radio overplays it, that’s different, but still, it’s fast-paced, upbeat, and it features a really captivating hook and good vocals from Charlie! Great start to the album!
Attention: The leadoff single to this album, this is one that has continued to ring off for me into 2018. A track that sees Charlie singing about an attention-seeking girl that wants to make him think that she wants him back (even though she’s just playing with him), this one has a very groovy bassline and a really fun, danceable vibe to it. I also like Charlie’s vocals on the track, and the hook is extremely hypnotic. This was a song I enjoyed from my very first listen, and it’s one that I’ve continued to hold on to even after several repeat listens.
LA Girls: A track that shows Charlie in a somewhat vulnerable state, as he just broke up with a girl because he was looking for something better, only to find that the girls in Los Angeles make him regret the breakup and miss the girl he was previously with. This track has some really interesting, plucky strings, and I like the very danceable beat and funky vibe of the track. I also find the hook to be extremely strong on this one! Wow, so far, I’m really digging this album!
How Long: Something of a “sequel” to “Attention” with its very groovy, danceable feel and slick bassline, this song sees Charlie basically apologizing to a girl that he was being unfaithful to. Standard stuff, yes, but the song is still extremely fun and vibrant, Charlie brings some really solid vocals to the table, and much like “Attention,” the hook is hypnotic and ear-wormy. This has become another favorite of mine, I really like it!
Done for Me (ft. Kehlani): Another song that feels kind of like a throwback to the 1980s, this one serves as the conclusion to the story that was strung along by “Attention” and “How Long,” as the boy (portrayed by Charlie) and the girl (portrayed by Kehlani) basically come to terms and fully apologize to each other. This one again feels very danceable and energetic, and I like the vocal interplay between Charlie and Kehlani, as they mesh well with the instrumentals on this one, but my only real issue is that I don’t think the hook sticks with me all that much. Still, it’s definitely a decent track, and it might even grow on me with a few more listens.
Patient: Carrying out the theme of the love story that goes throughout the album, here we see the phase of heartbreak and regret from Charlie, as he sings over a very throwback-y slow-jam. I think the track is a great showcase of Puth’s vocal talents, and the Rhodes Piano melody on this one is very pretty and relaxing. Definitely dig this song quite a bit, I can see myself coming back to it a lot in the future.
If You Leave Me Now (ft. Boyz II Men): Charlie Puth doing a track with Boyz II Men? Well, I can safely say that I wasn’t expecting this. In the context of the album, it definitely makes sense because this definitely has a throwback-y feel to it, but I definitely didn’t expect Charlie to land them on a track. What’s more, I definitely wasn’t expecting this song to be a cappella. It’s all the better for it, though: this track about Charlie not wanting his girl to leave features some beautiful vocals from him and, notably, from Boyz II Men’s Nathan Morris, and the song has a very gorgeous sound to it. I love this one a lot, it’s definitely got a great vibe to it.
BOY: A track with some very groovy synth pianos up against a very hi-hat driven beat, Charlie talks here about what it’s like to be treated like a “boy,” and the negative reactions that come from that. While it’s definitely got some really cool grooves to it, and Charlie’s vocals are very solid, I don’t really find myself all that into the song. The hook doesn’t really stick with me all that much, and I don’t find the song as danceable as some of the others on here. Not a terrible track (in fact, I’d wager it’s still much better than most of the stuff on “Nine Track Mind”), but it’s definitely one of the weaker cuts on the album.
Slow It Down: Another more personal song, Charlie talks here about a girl that’s coming on very strong for him, and he admits that, while he’s not ready to commit to her, she makes it hard for him to say no. Honestly, I might be a bit biased on this one because I felt like I related to it a bit, but I really found myself enjoying this track. It’s got a really danceable vibe to it, a very sticky and memorable hook, and a very catchy beat. Again, I could be biased because I relate to it, but it’s a track I definitely enjoy.
Change (ft. James Taylor): A collaboration with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member James Taylor, I can safely say I wasn’t expecting this. And admittedly, in the context of the rest of the album, it felt a bit strange, given that this acoustic, soft-rock song comes after many R&B/funk-flavored throwbacks. It’s certainly interesting, and again, very different for Charlie Puth. The song is basically just about how there’s not enough love in the world, and how we should all get along. And look, I know that sounds a bit cliché and potentially preachy, and I’m sure there will be several people that dislike it for that reason alone, but I gotta say, I actually really dig the track. It’s very sweet and nice on the ears, and it’s got some solid vocal performances from both Charlie and James. It’s just too irresistibly sweet and the hook is delivered with conviction, I can’t help but smile as I listen to it. I don’t expect that many others will enjoy it as I do, but for what it’s going for, I like this quite a bit!
Somebody Told Me: Not to be confused with the famous song by The Killers, this is another track that feels like it has some rock influence, and it features Charlie talking about a girl who cheated on him. Honestly, I don’t know what it is, but this cut gives me some old-school Shania Twain throwbacks, oddly enough. It’s a relatively upbeat and energetic song, and I do like the guitar melody on this one, but I don’t really think it sticks with me all that much. It’s an interestingly different direction for Charlie to take, but I just don’t see myself coming back to it too often.
Empty Cups: A very bouncy track with a really catchy drum beat, this one has Charlie talking about a girl who, despite having a boyfriend, he feels he is better than. Charlie’s turning into the bad boy on this one, I see. Admittedly, while the lyrics on this one may rub some people the wrong way (it feels like Charlie is basically saying “hey, babe, cheat on your boyfriend with me because I’m better than him”), I actually really find myself enjoying this track. It’s got a really great beat to it, the hook is very captivating, and Charlie’s vocals remain rock-solid here. Again, I’m not sure others will enjoy this track as I did, but you know what? I dig it, oddly enough.
Through It All: The finishing track for the album, this one has a slightly different sound compared to the other songs on the album (apparently, it was recorded when he was touring for his first album), this track sees Charlie singing over a very grand, somewhat jazzy piano melody about how, through everything he’s done in his life, he did everything his way (it definitely feels like a tribute to Frank Sinatra’s iconic “My Way”). It’s different, but I really enjoy it a lot! I like Charlie’s vocals on this one a lot, and the piano meshes well with the slow, but still powerful, drum beat. Definitely a pretty great, more personal end to the album.
Overall, this album definitely threw me for a loop, I definitely didn’t expect to enjoy it at much at all! Charlie moves as far away from the slower ballads of his last album as possible, and in turn, crafts some more funk/R&B-driven throwbacks (with a few soft-rock moments) on the album, and luckily, he actually sticks the landing. Charlie has made it clear that he felt that “Nine Track Mind” wasn’t him, and that he was just hiding his true self and his real music with that album, and I have to say, if this is his real music, I’m digging it! Even at the album’s lower points, it feels like Charlie at the very least appreciates the old-school sound and vibe, and he really shows that with these very fun, well-produced tracks. On top of that, while his vocals were fine for the most part on “Nine Track Mind,” it feels like he’s tightened them up a bit, and even when he’s reaching into his falsetto, it’s not as annoying as it was on some of the tracks on that album. Overall, I definitely think he’s carved out a much better sound on this record with some very nice throwbacks and more funky, danceable tracks, and I can definitely recommend checking it out.
That said, I’m still not loving the album cover of this thing. Nope.
Favorite tracks: The Way I Am, Attention, LA Girls, How Long, Patient, If You Leave Me Now, Slow It Down, Change, Empty Cups, Through It All
Least favorite tracks: BOY (if I had to pick one)
Rating: Excellent (I know, I’m as surprised as you probably are.)
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