He does not need to do much to gain much from his listeners’ satisfaction. Yet, again, Khalid’s soulfulness comes from having a voice that feels naturally coated by sentiments.
Rhythmically, this album feels like the future of music, where humanity has finally mashed perfectly soul with computerized sounds. For the most part, Khalid is straight-toned and casual with his annunciations, which plays off deliciously in contrast and blend with his beats. He sings his songs as if they are within him being carried in his mind and heart as he tries to get “Saved”, survive being “Young, Dumb, & Broke”, and realizes the “Therapy” a love connection can be. American Teen is deeply sentimental with songs like “Cold-Blooded”, “Winter”, and ” Another Sad Love Song” come off like the diary pages of an introvert. Many argue that the digitization of music, like communication, has desensitized its meaning and soulful values, but Khalid proves otherwise. Like these fellows artists, Khalid aims to bring a spiritualism to the synth waves that have taken over music. While I know Khalid will be compared to Frank Ocean and Sampha, whose recent I albu mI have also reviewed and relished, I understand the comparisons.
Making one of the strongest albums, let alone, debuts of 2017 thus far, I am absolutely in love with Khalid’s American Teen.
