In late 2002, 14-year old
Aaron Carter released his fourth album. Over 15 years later, he issued the follow-up,
LØVË. Needless to say, the musical landscape -- and the world in general -- changed drastically. So how does one mature from a pubescent pop star into a full-fledged adult artist? On
LØVË,
Carter does an admirable job grasping the contemporary pop trends of 2017 and 2018 while adjusting his lyrical content from that of teen party jams to reflective heartbreak anthems. For this LP release,
Carter added seven tracks and a couple remixes to flesh out 2017's EP of the same name. The songs feature an effortless, contemporized sound steeped in alternative R&B soul, Auto-Tune, and a heavy injection of trap, EDM-lite, and tropical house flair. While this may sound indistinguishable from any number of singers of the time, solid production and an emotive vocal delivery on
Carter's part make each song catchy and comfortingly familiar. As the title suggests, the songs included on
LØVË reflect
Carter's experiences with passion and heartbreak (whether it's the result of a bad breakup or the death of his father). Highlights include the yearning "Same Way" (which sounds like something from his brother
Nick's late-era
Backstreet Boys catalog) and the smooth "Sooner or Later." "Fool's Gold" is a sensual ride that recalls
Troye Sivan performing over a
Justin Bieber track. Considering that
Carter is a forerunner to these younger crooners, seeing him loop around full-circle to join their ranks is fascinating. The album closes with a pair of bittersweet meditations on loss, notably "Champion," which is dedicated to
Carter's late father. Overall,
LØVË is a welcome return for the singer and a successful exercise in stylistic evolution and lyrical maturation. Striving to regain relevance in a pop arena that's left the Disney-fied "Aaron's Party" far behind, he's changed with the times. If listeners can get beyond his past,
LØVË is a delightful and competent set shining a light on
Carter's future. ~ Neil Z. Yeung