Celebrating his 50th birthday with his first album in 11 years,
Rick Astley
has never seemed as subdued as he is on 2016's
50
. Blame it on age: not only wouldn't the exuberance of "Never Gonna Give You Up" suit a man in his middle age but
Astley
's instrument has weathered with age, no longer quite as booming or insistent. Such changes actually benefit
, who is humanized by his years, especially as this light grit adds a little bit of heft to the immaculate adult pop of
. His first set of original pop music since 2001's
Keep It Turned On
isn't especially in tune with the times -- it exists in an adult contemporary netherworld, sounding as if it could've been released any time between 1999 and 2016 -- but there's an appeal in how
settles into his voice and surroundings, allowing himself to indulge in a couple of ridiculous moments (the slightly bluesy, slightly stomping "Somebody Loves Me") but generally luxuriating in his high thread count. It's not camp: there's no sign
cares -- or is even aware -- of his status as a classic Internet meme.
is earnest, rooted in American soul, and crafted to British pop specifications, a formula that once brought
fame and still suits him well. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine