Ben Platt, Reverie | Album Review 💿

Actor/musician extraordinaire Ben Platt ‘shakes things up’ on his sophomore album, Reverie, further showcasing his talent and versatility. 

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nfortunately, too few folks partook of 💿 Sing to Me Instead, the 2019 debut album by 🎙 Ben Platt. Of course, Platt has had plenty of success.  Prior to Sing to Me Instead, he shined as Evan Hansen in 🎭 Dear Evan Hansen.  Post-Sing to Me Instead, he ‘stole the show’ on 📺 The Politician (Netflix).  On his sophomore album, 💿 Reverie, he opts for a ‘poppier’ sound.  This, of course, is a risk. Was Platt’s risk worth it? You bet! 

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“King of the world, pt. 1” 

From the beginning, Ben Platt ensures Reverie starkly contrasts 💿 Sing to Me Instead.  How so? Well, the lush, vocal effects-laden 🎵 “King of the world, pt. 1” sounds like NOTHING we’ve heard from the big-voiced Broadway musician.  Even as surprising as it is to hear Platt experiment with vocoder and such effects, the pureness and sheer beauty of his voice remains intact.  If “King of the World, pt. 1” ends up feeling too unexpected or even off-putting, Platt delivers on the reminiscent ✅ 🎵 “Childhood Bedroom.” The 80s influences are pronounced, and it works out successfully.  Vocally, he remains ear catching and expressive, even with more effects.  Rather than being backed by acoustic instrumentation, Ben has picturesque synths, rhythmic guitar, and drum programming.  There’s this feeling that Platt wants to shed that Broadway vibe, something inescapable to a degree on Sing to Me Instead.  He sheds it successfully, while still giving us those big, powerhouse vocals. 

✅ 🎵 “Happy to Be Sad” continues this sleeker, synth-driven sound. It’s refreshing yet hearkens back to a different era.  Here, the warmth of the vocals, particularly the falsetto, is alluring.  Platt shows incredible control and poise on the verses, upping the ante on the chorus.  On the second verse, I love the progression of the pacing, with the addition of harmonized vocals and providing more oomph and punch.  Like “Childhood Bedroom” that precedes, “Happy to Be Sad” features a fantastic, memorable, and tuneful chorus.  Also, can’t move on from “Happy to Be Sad” without mentioning the saxophone.

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“I Wanna Love You But I Don’t” 

“I begged my heart to start to race when I’m kissing you / I say I’m dreaming ‘bout your face, but it isn’t you.” Ugh! Platt is in a heartbreaking situation on ✅ 🎵 “I Wanna Love You but I Don’t.”  Of course, that situation is that this guy, who he deems ‘perfect’ just isn’t meant for him.  “I know we look good on paper,” he sings on the first verse, adding, “Until you give us a read / ‘Cause when we pull back the curtains / There ain’t a whole lot to see.” Ben spends the entirety of the song explaining the situation to him, doing so like the perfect gentleman.  He even goes on to say, “When you finally find that someone who fits you right / You’re gonna see I couldn’t be him.” “I Wanna Love You But I Don’t” might be Platt’s most dynamic performance on Reverie. 

There’s no way you listen to 🎵 “Leave my mind” without moving your body.  The groove is electrifying, while the backdrop remains electronic fueled (🎛 Ian Kirkpatrick and 🎛 Gian Stone).  Did we ever expect Ben Platt to drop a dance-pop record? No, but he shows his versatility.  The vocals continue to ‘give,’ balancing belted, powerhouse vocals and ripe falsetto.  The theme and lyrics center on love, always a catalyst for a hit (“Why can’t you leave my mind?”).  🎵 “Dance with You” keeps the tempo moving, contrasting the balladry that dominated Sing to Me, Instead.  Even with more pace behind him, Platt still gives us those rich, legato vocal lines when delivering the radiant melody.  Furthermore, the chorus remains tuneful and tuneful, with Ben delivering some of his most high-flying moments.  🎵 “King of the World, pt. 2” follows, running longer than the first part, but giving a similar aesthetic and vibe.

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“Carefully”

“If coming apart and breaking my heart is what you need / Break it carefully, break it carefully.” ✅ 🎵 “Carefully” marks a ‘return to form’ of sorts for Platt.  After electronic instrumentation and sounds dominate Reverie, he returns to more of an acoustic palette.  There’s rhythmic acoustic guitar and acoustic piano (at least an acoustic patch).  This was a wise move at this point in the album.  As a fan of his debut, I’m happy to hear he didn’t totally abandon ship.  I love the addition of the strings, which perfectly complement his sublime vocals.  I also love where “Carefully” evolves towards the end, achieving a gargantuan climax before bringing things back down.

It ends up that “Carefully is a mere pit stop for Platt in the context of Reverie.  The 80s come back in a big way on the up-tempo, groovy 🎵 “Chasing You.”  It’s a risk but yields a sizable reward for Ben.  Prior to Reverie, ‘fun’ wouldn’t necessarily be a way I’d characterize his music.  After hearing so much personality on this record, he shows just how much more versatile he is than I previously imagined. 🎵 “Come Back” keeps things grooving, while pulling back the tempo a bit.  Here, on this moderate joint, the formula continues to bode well in Ben’s favor.  Fabulous vocals, relatable lyrics centered on love and escapism (“And if we run away to a place like that / We might go and never wanna go back”), and that 80s-inspired backdrop.    

Remember that I said that “Carefully” was a ‘pit stop’ on Reverie.  Well, perhaps that was a premature assertion.  ✅ 🎵 “Dark Times,” like “Carefully” feels more in line with Sing to Me, Instead.  This is an expressive, meaningful, and moving ballad that reflects on being different (part of the LGBTQ+ community 🏳️‍🌈), life, and love.  It’s reflective – poetically penned.  “Now, you’re sitting on a secret no one knows,” Platt sings from a 13-year-old perspective, continuing, “You see him after school / He barely looks at you / ‘Cause you’re both afraid that people might suppose.”  On the second verse, Platt is 18, while the third and final verse he’s his current age of 27 (“We’re 27 now / Don’t have it figured out / But at least, no one can say, we haven’t grown”). The production matches the emotional songwriting, with the use of piano and lush strings.  “Dark Times” isn’t like most of Reverie but is arguably its best track. 

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“Imagine” 

Penultimate track ✅ 🎵 “Imagine”, a single from Reverie, served as evidence of the ‘poppier’ direction of the album.  As always, Platt showcases how gifted he is as a vocalist.  Even with more modern sheen on the production end of things, “Imagine” allows Platt to bless us with those prodigious pipes.  He has a marvelous tone, great range, and exhibits ample personality.  At first, I was slightly off put by the production and sound, but as “Imagine” progresses, the pacing makes more sense, and Ben exhibits more passion and assertiveness. Never in doubt is the songwriting, which is very personal and quite relatable.  Love, of course, is ever relatable.

Some of the best lyrics occur on the pre-chorus and chorus.  On the pre-chorus, Ben speaks of his partner, singing, “You say I’m your hero / But you are the one that saved me.” Love it! The centerpiece, the chorus, is where Platt really flexes:

“I can’t imagine my life without you
I can’t imagine one night without you
If something happened, don’t know what I’d do
I can’t imagine
I can’t imagine, my life without you.”

Ultimately, “Imagine” feels good.  It previously appeared on a pair of playlists: 🎧 11 Stellar, Totally Dreamy Imagine Songs and 🎧 A Must-Hear PRIDE 🏳️‍🌈 Compendium: 2021. Platt concludes Reverie with the final part of the three-part “King of the World” series.  🎵 “King of the World, pt. 3” is characterized by its lushness as well as ample vocal effects.  Does Platt need these effects? No, but that’s the sound and vibe Ben opted for consistently through Reverie, separating it from his debut. 

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Final Thoughts 💭 

Going into Reverie, I wasn’t sure if I’d be onboard with Platt’s sophomore album.  After listening, I’m pleasantly surprised and remain a fan boy of the handsome, incredibly gifted actor musician.  Ben Platt deserves more recognition than he’s received for his music, period.  Reverie is well-done from start to finish, showing just how talented and versatile he is.  I like the fact that he expanded his arsenal following his fine, 2019 debut album.

✅ Gems 💎: “Childhood Bedroom,” “Happy to Be Sad,” “I Wanna Love You but I Don’t,” “Carefully,” “Dark Times” & “Imagine”

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🎙 Ben Platt • 💿 Reverie • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 8.13.21

[📷: Atlantic]

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