Before the arrival of
After the Sun Goes Down,
Khalid revealed that the album is not the one he would have made if he hadn't been outed by an ex, a situation into which the singer was thrown a few months after the preceding
Sincere was released. While
Sincere might remain
Khalid's most personal work in terms of introspection,
After the Sun Goes Down represents a liberated shift in perspective.
Khalid not only adds "he," "him," and "his" to his lyrical vocabulary -- as objects of affection, desire, and derision -- but he also lives out the pop star fantasies he has had since he was a youngster. For lead single "In Plain Sight,"
Khalid linked with
Mattman & Robin,
Savan Kotecha, and
Ilya, songwriters and producers collectively known for pop hits like "Break Free," "Cake by the Ocean," and "Unholy" -- and went straight to the dancefloor. Despite the guy trouble
Khalid details, the song's flirty and boisterous feelings set the tone for the album. He's also exhausted by a needy lover in "Nah," and fed up in "Please Don't Call," but the album is otherwise about temptation, seduction, and longing. It reaches a romantic peak with "Angel Boy," a tender love ballad, and there's a wealth of fully energized, open-hearted songs articulating the rush of new love, including a couple co-written by
Tove Lo ("Tank Top," "Instant").
Khalid cites 2006 as the year in which he was shaped most by pop music, so it's likely not coincidental that he also sought out
Rodney Jerkins, the highly decorated songwriter/producer who co-authored a chart-topping hit that year with
Beyoncé's "Déjà Vu." That said, "Out of Body" is more in the slinking vein of
Beyoncé's "Naughty Girl," replete with quasi-Arabic strings. These full-blown pop moves foster a greater emphasis on hooks and enunciation, another major development for
Khalid. Whenever he sounds like the somnolent mumbler of yore, it seems more likely an effect of a long night out than one of lonesome doomscrolling. A weight has been lifted. ~ Andy Kellman
