If you want to know how far Khalid has traveled in a year, just look at his album covers.

His summer 2024 16-track “Sincere” showed the R&B star solo, in black and white, looking at the camera equal parts faded and standoffish. In his new one, out Friday, he’s at the center of a crowd of sweaty dancers and lovers, clearly in his element. He’s looking at the camera, but this time inviting us in living color, his hair blue.

The 17-track “After the Sun Goes Down” is an upbeat, slightly throwback meditation on love in all its forms — lusty, ecstatic, devoted, flirty, defiant, apprehensive, revengeful and even post-passion cold. It’s a welcome return after his dour last outing.

One big thing that’s different this time is that Khalid is publicly out and proud, a change that has given his musi

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