Ptx Presents: Top Pop, Vol. I [Vinyl]

The sequel to the 2017 Classics EP finds Pentatonix spending a full album singing the big hits of the day -- a move that isn't all that dissimilar to easy listening albums of the '60s and '70s, where Bacharach/David and Lennon/McCartney songs were given smooth arrangements designed for the adult contemporary charts. Pentatonix aren't so fusty. They do a medley of "Despacito" and "Shape of You" and cover Kesha, Demi Lovato, and Zedd, while never relying on old a cappella tricks. Make no mistake, they are still proudly the children of Glee, but that's also the ace up their sleeve: they're flashy about their hip attributes, which helps disguise how this album is -- at its core -- music by a very good music theater troupe. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine