Nine Track Mind

It seems that the easiest way to get discovered nowadays is to post videos of yourself on YouTube. But not all YouTube stars are cut from the same cloth. Before hitting it big with last year's "See You Again," singer Charlie Puth first garnered attention by uploading acoustic videos to the social media website. With a music production degree from the Berklee College of Music, Puth sets himself apart from his peers by being skilled both in front of the microphone and on the production side. Following up the massive success from his collaboration with rapper Wiz Khalifa, the singer is now releasing his major label debut, Nine Track Mind, and positioning himself as a triple threat singer, songwriter, and producer.

"Nine Track Mind" is filled with songs about women and the things boys will do when they are in love with them. Listeners curious to find out who Puth is as an artist do not have to look any further than the first single, "Marvin Gaye." A duet with Meghan Trainor, the song offers a peek at the album as a whole. It's playful and fun, and offers a retro vibe to old school R&B and soul music. It's wholesome without being squeaky clean. Kids can listen to it with their parents and not feel embarrassed by the lyrics. There's also enough subtle innuendo to keep him from being dismissed by the younger listeners.

After successfully collaborating with Trainor and Wiz Khalifa, the singer is attempting to score a hat trick with another solid duet. "We Don't Talk Anymore" pairs him with Selena Gomez for a sultry break up song. The Latin-tinged song is begging to be released as a single and could help cement Puth as the ultimate duet partner.

Ironically, where the singer struggles the most is when he offers up a track that doesn't have the trademark throwback vibe to it. "Losing My Mind" is his most current sounding song on the album, but also one of the weakest on the album. Being one of the few tracks where he is singing over a pre-made beat, it's a song that doesn't feel organically connected to the rest of the songs on the album.

"Nine Track Mind" offers a nice throwback, listening to old school R&B. Puth is savvy enough to offer enough of a modern day twist to the songs to keep them from sounding dated, but struggles when it comes to creating songs similar to what's currently popular in the Top 40. The themes he is singing about are universal, however, so offering a different sound could be his savviest move of all.

Nine Track Mind
Atlantic Records
$11.99
www.charlieputh.com