Andy Grammer
named his third album
Naive
in an attempt to reclaim the word.
Grammer
's argument is that it's a positive to always look on the bright side of life, so if naysayers label him naive, well, he'll just lean into that criticism. What this means as a listening experience is a bit harder to parse.
certainly is a brighter, bouncier affair than
The Good Parts
, the 2017 album that took pains to demonstrate that
was a much more mature and thoughtful singer/songwriter than his novelty hit "Honey, I'm Good" suggested. The return of a light touch is welcome on
, but
isn't a party guy. That much is clear from "My Hero," which spins the cavernous clamor of
Imagine Dragons
into affirmational pop. Affirmations are a big thing for
. When he sings "Wish You Pain," it's only because he loves you so much that he wants you to grow, get better, and evolve. It's the language of positivity and it flows throughout
, evident even when the surfaces are chilly and steely, which they often are.
strategically fuses
Ryan Tedder
's slick gloss with the oversized wallop of the
, using rappers
Andy Mineo
&
Swoope
and
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
as stylistic accents. It's enough to add some stylistic variety, but
is unified by
's self-belief, which is so all-consuming, it's supposed to function as a design for life for the at-home listener. Whether
winds up as a self-help album depends entirely on whether it's possible to see yourself within the reflection of its glassy surfaces. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine