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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →“Benson Boone Can’t Land the Backflip” is the headline of Brittany Spanos’s Rolling Stone review of Boone’s second album, American Heart, published June 21, 2025. The backflip is a metaphorical verdict on the album, not a report of an acrobatic mishap: Spanos finds flashes of promise, but argues that the record’s polished retro sound sometimes smooths away the youthful edge she heard in his breakout work.
What does “Can’t Land the Backflip” mean?
The headline turns Boone’s flips—part of the public image surrounding his music—into a metaphor for whether American Heart pulls off its artistic ambitions. Spanos’s answer is qualified rather than absolute: she hears charm and potential, but does not think the album consistently reveals the most authentic version of Boone.
The article is a review by Brittany Spanos, published by Rolling Stone Australia on June 21, 2025. Read the review.
Why is the album’s sound central to the criticism?
Spanos describes American Heart as a fast follow-up to Boone’s debut, Fireworks & Rollerblades, arriving 14 months later, according to her review. She hears glam-pop and conspicuous 1970s and 1980s references in the new record. Those choices give the album a recognizable style, but in her view can also make it feel too polished, muting the youthful rawness she associates with the breakout material.
#1 Best Overall
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That tension is the review’s main artistic measure: retro styling is not simply a problem, but it can become a glossy finish that leaves less room for the personality Spanos wants to hear. This is her critical judgment, not an objective claim that all listeners will respond to the production in the same way.
Which songs does Spanos single out?
- “Mr Electric Blue”: Spanos sees it as an effective tribute to Boone’s father.
- “Momma Song”: She calls it endearing.
- “American Heart” and “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else”: She identifies promise in both, suggesting that the album’s strongest possibilities emerge in particular songs rather than uniformly across the record.
These selections offer a counterweight to the broader critique: the review does not dismiss the album, and its praise is clearest when the songs feel personal or show a compelling direction.
Rank #2
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What is the review’s final verdict?
Spanos closes on a deliberately mixed note: “There’s still a long way to go before the most authentic form of Boone emerges, but there’s no denying there’s a spark of charm that reels you in, whether or not you’re sick of his throaty screams and backflips.” In other words, she considers American Heart an uneven step in Boone’s development, not a definitive artistic arrival. Her review leaves room for the appeal of the songs and performer even as it questions whether the album’s sound lets his identity come through clearly.
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