Voicenotes

For many pop stars facing down their second album, “maturity” means dour confessionals, but Charlie Puth flips the script, bringing grown-up emotion to these easy-to-love grooves. On first listen to the nakedly romantic lyrics and bump-and-grind beats of *Voicenotes*, it may be hard to imagine that this is the same guy behind the peppy acoustic ballads and big-budget pop that filled his 2016 debut, *Nine Track Mind*. “Attention” is the steamy, bass-up-front strut designed to flip Puth’s public persona from grinning nice guy to wounded R&B player, and “Done for Me” seals the deal with its electro-funk duet with Kehlani. But it’s the album’s deeper cuts that really reveal Puth’s uncanny feel for classic soul music, including the harmony-rich Boyz II Men collab “If You Leave Me Now” and the throwback-disco rush of the Hall and Oates cowrite “Slow It Down.”

Although he doesn't always get it right, on his second album 'Voicenotes' Charlie Puth shows moments of pure pop brilliance.

Pop crooner Charlie Puth brings on Boyz II Men and James Taylor for a valiant stab at R&B classicism on 'Voicenotes.'

Charlie Puth went from YouTube likes to RIAA certifications with such swiftness that he caught a serious case of stardom bends.

Charlie Puth - Voicenotes review: Puth's doubt, OCD -- whatever you want to call it -- has resulted in a career defining album.