Benson Boone- American Heart
Label: Warner
Producers: Jason Evigan, Jason Suwito, Malay, Evan Blair
In the fourteen months since 23-year-old Benson Boone unveiled his debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, the charismatic singer-songwriter has quickly evolved from the buzz-worthy fringes of the pop underground to the brink of mainstream superstardom. This happened largely on the shoulders of his emotionally and vocally acrobatic smash, “Beautiful Things”, with his Freddie-recalling falsetto, glitzy Elton-esque stage-show, and rugged sex appeal taking him over the edge in terms of his promise as pop’s potential next breakout superstar.
Judging by the fizzy and sizzling box-office pop production of American Heart, it’s clear that Boone and his team are squarely focused on promptly building upon that momentum. It’s a flashy and deliriously infectious set aimed squarely at those sweet spot qualities that transform a track into a pop smash in the viral climate of 2020s pop. Inescapable singles like “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else” and the “Physical”-interpolating”Mystical Magical” pour both the dance-worthy synths and Boone’s endlessly fetching charm on strong, and while they may admittedly dumb down the mature songwriting chops that Boone displayed more heavily on Rollerblades, it hardly matters when the overall package of a track is this deliciously candy-coated. They’re both worthy of song-of-the-summer status, and other dazzling numbers like “Man In Me”, “Wanted Man”, and “I Wanna Be the One You Call” (which is also another dramatic showcase of Boone’s elastic vocal range) both possess the alluring, pulsating contagion to further extend the album’s hit streak in the months ahead. Meanwhile, the fitting album finale, “Young American Heart” adds a more rock-oriented bite to the proceedings, with Boone showing his affinity for both Born in the USA-era Springsteen and peak-form Killers, resulting in a track that closes the project on a high-note combination of pop ear-candy, rock swagger, and the exhilarating musical drama that is clearly Benson’s bread and butter.
The most common criticisms that will plague American Heart will charge Boone with taking a step back both lyrically and stylistically from his debut. It’s true that the compositional nature of these tracks at times feels much heavier in its reliance on platitudes. And it can also be said that the more folk-tinged brushstrokes that made the emotional arcs of debut tracks like “Things” and “Pretty Slowly” so resonant and distinctive is missed in the splashy walls of synth, as intoxicating as they may. However, that’s where the one-two punch of parental tributes “Mr. Electric Blue” and “Momma Song” come into play. The former is an anthemic ode to Boone’s father, and while still firmly planted in the buzzy dance-rock theatrics of the overall record, it stands out amongst the pack for Boone’s proud and beaming delivery, and the heightened drama of the occasional glimmers of all-out space-rock.
Meanwhile, the true heartbeat of American Heart is undoubtedly “Momma’s” moment, which trades in the cool and cocky confidence of “Blue” for the undeniable strength of Boone’s catalog thus far: soulful power-pop balladry. When the string arrangements begin to swell and every ounce of Benson’s uniquely guttural vocal power unleash on the achingly proud and passionate lyricism of the chorus, it’s game over. It could have all equated to maudlin melodrama in the wrong hands; in this artist’s hands however it’s the makings for one of pop music’s most stirring modern moments. It not only provides a joyously entertaining record with the weighty centerpiece that it needed, but also further demonstrates why Benson Boone is one of the key young musical voices to watch in the months and years ahead.
Track Listing:
- “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else” (Benson Boone, Jack LaFrantz, Jason Evigan)
- “Mr. Electric Blue” (Boone, LaFrantz, Evan Blair)
- “Man In Me” (Boone, Evigan)
- “Mystical Magical” (Boone, Blair, Steve Kipner, Terry Shaddick)
- “Reminds Me Of You” (Boone, Blair)
- “Momma Song” (Boone, Evigan)
- “I Wanna Be the One You Call” (Boone, Malay)
- “Wanted Man” (Boone, Jason Suwito)
- “Take Me Home” (Boone, Blair)
- “Young American Heart” (Boone, Evigan, Robin Weisse)
The 706 
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