{"id":350258,"date":"2026-03-27T08:28:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T08:28:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/350258\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T08:28:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T08:28:18","slug":"charlie-puth-whatevers-clever-album-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/350258\/","title":{"rendered":"Charlie Puth- Whatever\u2019s Clever! (Album Review)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"491\" height=\"485\" data-attachment-id=\"247421\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/ratingsgamemusic.com\/screenshot-149\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ratingsgamemusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/img_6472.jpg?fit=491%2C485&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"491,485\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Screenshot&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1774571300&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Screenshot&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screenshot\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Screenshot&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ratingsgamemusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/img_6472.jpg?fit=400%2C395&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ratingsgamemusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/img_6472.jpg?fit=491%2C485&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/img_6472.jpg\" alt=\"Charlie Puth\" class=\"wp-image-247421\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Charlie Puth is back \u2014 and this feels like him fully in his element.<\/p>\n<p>STREAM<\/p>\n<p>TOP 5 SONGS<\/p>\n<p>5. Changes<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">If you follow Charlie Puth on TikTok or have seen any of his interviews, you might\u2019ve caught the process behind this track \u2014 and honestly, that just makes it hit even harder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">But even without that context? This song is undeniable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cChanges\u201d is such a strong opener. It leans heavy into those 80s-inspired synths, with a funky groove and a chorus that latches onto your brain immediately. It\u2019s one of those tracks that feels effortless but is clearly crafted with intention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Lyrically, it\u2019s exactly what the title suggests \u2014 everything shifting, everything feeling unfamiliar, life moving whether you\u2019re ready or not. There\u2019s a lightness to it sonically, but the message still lands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">It sets the tone for the album perfectly: reflective, catchy, and just a little bit nostalgic.<\/p>\n<p>4. Cry<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">This track slows things down, and it does it beautifully.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCry\u201d feels deeply personal, almost like a quiet conversation. Charlie pulls from something his dad told him as a child, and you can feel that sincerity throughout the entire song. It\u2019s not overdone or overly dramatic \u2014 it\u2019s simple, honest, and comforting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">The message is one that everyone needs to hear at some point: it\u2019s okay to feel. It\u2019s okay to break down. Everybody goes through something.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">And then that Kenny G solo comes in\u2026 yeah. That was the moment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">It lifts the track in such a beautiful way, adding warmth and emotion without overpowering it. It feels like a release \u2014 like everything the song is trying to say finally gets to breathe.<\/p>\n<p>3. New Jersey<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m sorry, but this song is hilarious.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">A diss track\u2026 to a girl and an entire state? That\u2019s wild.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Charlie really said there\u2019s nothing to do in New Jersey and he\u2019s never coming back \u2014 and we all know that\u2019s not the full truth. This is 100% situationship drama disguised as regional slander.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">And I love that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">The dynamic between Charlie and Ravyn Lenae makes this track even better. There\u2019s a natural push and pull between their vocals that makes the story feel real \u2014 like an actual back-and-forth rather than just a feature.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s petty, it\u2019s playful, and it adds personality to the album in a way that makes it memorable.<\/p>\n<p>2. Home<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">This one hits in a quieter way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHome\u201d is about that person who transforms a space into something meaningful. Someone who brings comfort, warmth, and peace just by being there. And once they\u2019re gone\u2026 everything feels different.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Empty. Still. Off.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s such a relatable feeling, and that\u2019s what makes the track land so well. There\u2019s nothing overly complicated about it \u2014 it\u2019s just honest. Bittersweet in the way that makes you sit with it for a second longer than expected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s soft, emotional, and very real.<\/p>\n<p>1. Sideways<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">This track has a completely different energy \u2014 darker, moodier, a little more grounded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">There are strong soul and jazz influences here, and they really give the song depth. It feels richer, more layered, like something you sink into rather than just listen to.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Lyrically, it\u2019s about love that endures even when things fall apart. Even when everything goes sideways, there\u2019s still this belief that the connection is strong enough to find its way back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">That kind of love.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">And when Coco Jones comes in? Yeah, she elevates it. Her runs, her tone, her control \u2014 it adds a whole new layer of emotion to the track.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Together, they really sell the message.<\/p>\n<p>SONG BY SONG RATING<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Changes (4\/5)<br \/>Beat Yourself Up (4\/5)<br \/>Cry (4\/5)<br \/>Washed Up (3\/5)<br \/>New Jersey (4\/5)<br \/>Don\u2019t Meet Your Heroes (4\/5)<br \/>Home (4\/5)<br \/>Hey Brother (4\/5)<br \/>Sideways (4\/5)<br \/>Love In Exile (4\/5)<br \/>Until It Happens To You (3\/5)<br \/>I Used To Be Cringe (4\/5)<\/p>\n<p>RGM RATING<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">(C+)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever\u2019s Clever! is a reflection of Charlie as both an artist and a musician. You can hear his love for sound all over this album \u2014 the layering, the instrumentation, the attention to detail. It\u2019s not just about the vocals (even though, yes, they are pitch perfect as always), it\u2019s about how everything comes together.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Sonically, the album blends pop with jazz, funk, and heavy 80s influences. There\u2019s a musicality here that feels intentional and personal \u2014 like he\u2019s leaning into the sounds he genuinely enjoys rather than chasing trends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">And it works.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">The project feels well-rounded, moving between fun, lighthearted tracks and more introspective, emotional moments. He touches on love, relationships, self-reflection, and personal growth, all while keeping things accessible and easy to listen to.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">What stands out most is how natural it feels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing feels forced. Nothing feels out of place. It\u2019s just Charlie being Charlie \u2014 and honestly, that\u2019s when he\u2019s at his best.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">With strong features, catchy hooks, and thoughtful writing, Whatever\u2019s Clever! is a solid, enjoyable listen that shows both growth and confidence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1 has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">And yeah\u2026 I\u2019m not gonna lie. I\u2019ll definitely be spinning this one again.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ileyah\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/8c68046b270c8a397710ff99b5c5ec90673868ba1f4897dcb404241510997ce0.png\"  class=\"avatar avatar-100 photo\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" itemprop=\"image\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Ileyah is a mom, a writer and a musician. She loves late nights and gluten free snacks.<\/p>\n<p>\tDiscover more from RGM<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:15px\">Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Charlie Puth is back \u2014 and this feels like him fully in his element. STREAM TOP 5 SONGS&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":350259,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[2246,43654,156,157,6949,21990,185809,111,139,69,4913,68689,10465,762,763,114762,31788],"class_list":["post-350258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-2246","tag-charlie-puth","tag-entertainment","tag-music","tag-new-music","tag-new-song","tag-new-track","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-pop","tag-rating","tag-ratings","tag-review","tag-reviews","tag-song-reviews","tag-stream"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/350258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=350258"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/350258\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/350259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=350258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=350258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=350258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}