Diandra Reviews It All

Making one of the strongest albums, let alone, debuts of 2017 thus far, I am absolutely in love with Khalid’s American Teen. 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. Like these fellows artists, Khalid aims to bring a spiritualism to the synth waves that have taken over music.
Khalid – American Teen

American Teen

Many argue that the digitization of music, like communication, has desensitized its meaning and soulful values, but Khalid proves otherwise. 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. 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. For the most part, Khalid is straight-toned and casual with his annunciations, which plays off deliciously in contrast and blend with his beats. Rhythmically, this album feels like the future of music, where humanity has finally mashed perfectly soul with computerized sounds. Yet, again, Khalid’s soulfulness comes from having a voice that feels naturally coated by sentiments. He does not need to do much to gain much from his listeners’ satisfaction. This is especially so in terms of American Teen’s lyricism.
Khalid – Location

Location

American Teen lives up to its audacious name. Not every body can or should tap into a bold move like making a record that encompassed life, particularly Millennial Life, in America. Yet, Khalid is bold and smart in aiming for the natural loneliness and exuberance that comes with being young. No matter generation, youth is always blissfully aware of it underestimation. Tracks such as, “8Teen” , “American Teen”, and “Hopeless” show the joy and anarchy of not caring what the world thinks and deciding to fully invest in the relationship of “now”, the moment of “now”, or the choice of “now”. Khalid is so present in his words and voice that he fully embodies what its like to be young and find the past boring, the future both exciting and terrifying, and the present a little bit all those sentiments. By playing R&B/sould instrumental splashed and spliced with electro infusions, Khalid’s newest album shows that being a teen in general is the greatest/hardest thing you can be. To buy Khalid’s American Teen Click Here.
Khalid – Shot Down

Shot Down