Ben Platt "Reverie" Review

 

Ben Platt stole hearts in the roles of Benji Applebaum in Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2, as well as on Broadway as the title character in the hit musical "Dear Evan Hansen." In 2019, he released his debut album "Sing to Me Instead" which peaked at number eighteen on US Billboard Hot 200. On August 13, 2021, the singer released his second solo album, "Reverie."

While "Sing to me Instead" was more of the slow, soulful album one would expect from a Broadway alum, "Reverie" draws heavy inspiration from 80s pop and electronica music. Many songs on the album are inspired by Platt's relationship with actor/singer Noah Galvin, who stepped into the role of Evan Hansen after Ben left the show; the two had been friends for years. Having found love, Platt is brings a fresh, exciting perspective in contrast to the young man searching for love and reminiscing on past heartaches that he showcased on his first album.

The thirteen track album is full of dance songs that elevate your mood and get you up on your feet; the beats are very catchy and the lyrics are mesmerizing and relatable. There are a few tracks where Ben's voice is heavily autotuned, which I personally don't feel he needs, but they are few and far between. He is able to showcase his vocal range and raw talent in a more mainstream style than his previous album, which I feel may help his solo music become more well-known and accessible to the general public. As with the previous record, all tracks are written by the artist and his team of writers. I was hoping that there would be one penned solely by Ben like "Run Away" from "Sing to Me Instead" but I appreciate a singer who writes their own music, even if they have help.

There aren't many albums that I enjoy thoroughly; that's not to say that I only like a song or two, but that I'm not always crazy about every song. With "Sing to Me Instead, I fell in love with the majority of the songs, but with "Reverie" I loved every single second of listening to it, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a huge Ben Platt stan. Having already  been familiar with the lead singles "Happy to Be Sad" and "Imagine" I was pleasantly surprised by the catchiness of "Childhood Bedroom," "I Wanna Love You But I Don't," "Dance With You," and the depth of slower jams like "Come Back" and "Carefully." Listening to this album was a cathartic journey for me. My main complaint about pop music is its emphasis on sex and partying; neither of which is featured heavily in these songs. To me, music is supposed to speak to your soul, which this album certainly does for me.

Next month, the film adaption of "Dear Evan Hansen" will hit theaters with Platt returning to play the character that he created from day one. This theater nerd could not be more excited, especially since I never got to see Ben in the role on Broadway. 

On February 23, 2022, Ben Platt will be embarking on the national "Reverie Tour" with special guest Jake Wesley Rogers, starting in Florida and concluding on April 8th in Los Angeles.