New directions and lessons are infused in Charlie Puth’s “Whatever’s Clever!”

In 2016, Charlie Puth was on everyone’s minds in pop culture. Coming off from the 2015 viral AMAs performance of “Marvin Gaye” with Megan Trainor, a feature on the Furious 7 album with global hit “See You Again,” and the release of the hit single “We Don’t Talk Anymore” featuring Selena Gomez, Puth was a young star on the rise.

Ten years later, the now 34-year-old from New Jersey has grown up, and a lot has changed. Puth has released two more studio albums since his debut in 2016. He also married Brooke Sansone in 2024 and had a child who was born this past March.

Puth released his latest studio album, Whatever’s Clever! with Atlantic Records in late March. This feel-good, pop-rock album may not be as revolutionary as his previous masterpieces, but it is full of uncomplicated yet thoughtful lyrics and synth-filled electronic melodies that make it worth a listen.

The album includes catchy tunes that diverge from Puth’s original pop path, featuring a range of guest artists. The ‘80s funk-pop and yacht jazz style of the album reverberates a nostalgic genre, complete with features from veteran musicians Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald and saxophonist Kenny G. Other features mixed in a more modern pop sound with featured artists Ravyn Lenae, Hikaru Utada and Coco Jones.

The executive producer on the album, BloodPop, has previously worked with Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Madonna. It is clear he has influenced Whatever’s Clever! with his unique electropop sound. 

The lead single “Changes” opens the album, setting the stage for a set of songs about growing up. The song focuses on new and mature pondering, as Puth sings “everything has changed and I don’t know why.” 

Opening up about his feelings was something Puth had never done with listeners before on previous music releases. Puth stated he wanted the emotion to be at the center of the album. Especially with the song “Changes,” according to an interview he did with Variety.

“The waveform is one giant waveform. It’s not the most dynamic song, but it’s meant to be a little rough around the edges mix-wise because that’s the emotion. I didn’t want to remove the emotion,” Puth said.

While most of the lyrics are simple and generic (like on “Cry” featuring Kenny G), the production infuses vulnerability into the music with his layered harmonies and high falsettos.

Whatever’s Clever! also includes sweet songs dedicated to people Puth loves and appreciates in his life. The Jimmy Buffett-styled song “Washed Up” is about an intervention that Puth helped lead for his close friend. The groovy song “Hey Brother” talks about sibling loyalty and the power of family love. Puth dedicated the song to his younger brother, Stephen, whom he directly addresses.

Puth croons “even if it goes sideways/ even if we scream out enough’s enough/ I believe that we’ll always find a way to weather the storm,” with musician Coco Jones in one of the only R&B-styled songs, “Sideways.” The song’s harmonic singing focuses on weathering through the struggles of a romantic relationship. This is similar to the sound of Puth’s previous song “Done For Me” from his 2018 album “Voicenotes.” Here, however, he focuses on the devotion that relationships hold.

“Love In Exile” (written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins) pushes beyond simple lyrics and the modern pop sound. The whole album seems to be influenced by these icons and their genre of yacht rock. However, this song in particular reeks of the influences of “What a Fool Believes” by the Doobie Brothers.

“I knew I wanted to make a song that was so yacht rock in 2026. So how am I going to make that and not put the guys who invented the genre on the song with me?” Puth said to Vulture in an interview.

Whatever’s Clever! brings listeners into a new era of Puth. It shows him as a more honest and vulnerable artist. He now has the courage to move forward in his life as he sings “please don’t beat yourself up, know you made some mistakes/ but you know it means somethin’ when you’ll live one more day” in “Beat Yourself Up.” Puth has taken in his past in order to come to the realizations showcased on this album. He is now embracing who he is, making for some great, smooth and soft music to dance to and let go of all your woes.