Musician Review: Charlie Puth

After a cancelled show due to sickness earlier this year, Charlie Puth is finally coming to Utah State University for the Homecoming concert, instead of the End-of-Year bash.

Felicia Gallegos, vice president of Traditions for USU Student Alumni, said we’re lucky to get him back. Since April, when Puth was supposed to be here, two singles “We Don’t Talk Anymore” and “One Call Away” have climbed up the charts. But Puth is coming to USU on the original contract, meaning Aggies are getting a deal to have Puth come here for the price of $1 for students.

Puth’s debut album, “Nine Track Mind,” stormed the charts this January, peaking at number six on Billboard 200. The single “Marvin Gaye” hit number 21 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and topped charts in France, the United Kingdom and Australia.

It’s not surprising the album did well. The sound is a bass heavy, millennial-mixed soft-around-the-edges pop. Some moments are pleasant, cute, even fun. Like off-brand chicken noodle soup, it probably won’t fail to make you feel better, but you don’t remember the name.

What is memorable are the simple arrangements, creating a soft, mellow electric backdrop to highlight Puth’s girl-getter warble. There are moments that hint at something unique, like the choral beginning of ‘Some Type of Love,’ but those are usually brought back to the expected formula by the melody hook and Puth’s conventional breathy timbre.

‘We Don’t Talk Anymore’ is the stand-out track, like a cousin to ‘Ink’ by Coldplay, but more upbeat and garden variety. Another highlight, ‘Losing My Mind’ creates a chill nighttime aura to curl up into. “Nine Track Mind” feels more like an expanded EP, lacking the conviction of an album.
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