What Is Love? (Never Shout Never album)
What Is Love? | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 26, 2010 | |||
Studio | Abbey Road Studios, London | |||
Length | 20:36 | |||
Label | Loveway Records, Sire, Warner Bros. | |||
Producer | Butch Walker | |||
Never Shout Never chronology | ||||
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Singles from What Is Love? | ||||
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What Is Love? is the first studio album by American rock band Never Shout Never, which was released on January 26, 2010.[1][2]
The album debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 and sold 21,000 copies in its first week of its release.[3][4]
Background and release
[edit]On May 29, 2009, Never Shout Never signed to Warner Bros. Records.[5] The album was produced by Butch Walker and was recorded in Los Angeles and at Abbey Road Studios in London.[6][7] On December 3, 2009, Never Shout Never revealed the release date and track list of the album.[1]
The first single "What Is Love?" was released on December 15, 2009.[8] The music video was released in 2009 and was directed by Isaac Ravishankara.[9] "I Love You 5" was released on February 4, 2010 as the second single with the music video being released 2 days prior.[10] "Can't Stand It" was released on March 4, 2010 as the third and final single along with its music video that same day directed by Isaac Ravishankara.[11] The video includes visual references of Bob Dylan's, Dont Look Back and The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night.[11] The song peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales chart.[12]
Promotion
[edit]In support of the album, the group performed eight live shows in December 2009.[13] Christofer Drew also went on a solo acoustic tour in January 2010.[14] The group headlined the Alternative Press AP Tour in the spring of 2010 with support from Joplin, The Cab, Hey Monday, Every Avenue and The Summer Set.[15]
Critical reception
[edit]Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 55/100[16] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
Alternative Press | [17] |
Rolling Stone | [18] |
On Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album gained an average score of 55, based on 4 reviews, indicating "mixed to average reviews". The album was given a 2 star rating from Andrew Leahey of AllMusic. He complimented Drew's ability to write a pop melody however was critical of his vocals stating, "it's too hampered by pinched, nasal vocals to make much of an impression."[6] Scott Heisel of Alternative Press wrote, "while it is all good in the Never Shout Never camp, it's going to get better, faster than everyone thinks."[17] Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone gave the album a more negative review stating, "Drew took some bad lessons from emo and his dad's folk records. The vocals are often pained and piercing, and his manner can be gratingly precious – especially on 'Can't Stand It'."[18]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Christofer Drew Ingle
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Love Is Our Weapon" | 2:28 |
2. | "Jane Doe" | 1:55 |
3. | "Can't Stand It" | 2:50 |
4. | "Sacrilegious" | 1:51 |
5. | "I Love You 5" | 2:14 |
6. | "California" | 2:37 |
7. | "What Is Love?" | 2:34 |
8. | "The Past" | 4:07 |
Total length: | 20:36 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
9. | "Fifteen" | 1:30 |
10. | "Damn Dog" | 2:17 |
11. | "Can't Stand It" (music video) | 2:46 |
Personnel
[edit]Credits for What Is Love? adapted from AllMusic.[20]
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Charts
[edit]Chart (2010) | Peak position |
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Canadian Albums (Billboard)[21] | 58 |
US Billboard 200[3] | 24 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[22] | 2 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[23] | 2 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Never Shout Never News: What Is Love? album release date and tracklisting!". Never Shout Never Official Website. December 3, 2009. Archived from the original on December 17, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "What is Love? by Never Shout Never". Apple Music. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Never Shout Never Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard Magazine – February 20, 2010" (PDF). p. 35. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
- ^ "Never Shout Never Signs To Warner | Crazed Hits – The Music Industry's Leading A&R Site". Crazed Hits. May 25, 2009. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c Leahey, Andrew. "What Is Love? – Never Shout Never Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ "Never Shout Never debut nearly complete". Alternative Press. September 16, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ "What Is Love? – Single by Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
- ^ "What Is Love? by Never Shout Never". IMVDb. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ Chris, Ryan (February 2, 2010). "New Video: Never Shout Never, I Love You 5". MTV. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Ryan, Chris (March 4, 2010). "Video Premiere: Never Shout Never, 'Can't Stand It'". MTV. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ "Never Shout Never Chart History – Rock Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ "Never Shout Never December tour sold out". Alternative Press. December 16, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "Never Shout Never announce acoustic tour". Alternative Press. November 19, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ John Gonzalez (December 18, 2009). "Video: Christofer Drew talks about spirituality, tattoos and success; plus the latest on Never Shout Never's Alternative Press Tour". MLive. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "What Is Love? by Never Shout Never". Metacritic. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
- ^ a b Scott Heisel (January 18, 2010). "Never Shout Never – What Is Love?". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
- ^ a b Christian Hoard (February 16, 2010). "Never Shout Never – What Is Love?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
- ^ "What Is Love? (Bonus Track Version) by Never Shout Never". Apple Music. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
- ^ "What Is Love? – Never Shout Never". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "Canadian Albums Chart – 31 January 2010". Jam! Canoe. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Never Shout Never Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "Never Shout Never Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.