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High Expectations

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High Expectations
Colour photograph of Mabel
Studio album by
Mabel
Released2 August 2019 (2019-08-02)
Studio
Genre
Length61:22
Label
Producer
Mabel chronology
Ivy to Roses
(2017) 		High Expectations
(2019)
Singles from High Expectations
  1. "Don't Call Me Up"
    Released: 18 January 2019
  2. "Mad Love"
    Released: 7 June 2019
  3. "OK (Anxiety Anthem)"
    Released: 2 August 2019[3]
  4. "God Is a Dancer"
    Released: 20 September 2019
  5. "Boyfriend"
    Released: 26 February 2020

High Expectations is the debut studio album by British singer and songwriter Mabel, released on 2 August 2019 internationally by Polydor Records and in the United States by Capitol Records and Universal. Mabel worked with writers and producers such as Tre Jean-Marie, Steve Mac and MNEK to create the album, with its music incorporating genres of pop and R&B.

Two singles and one promotional single were released from the album. Its lead single, "Don't Call Me Up", was released in January 2019 and was a commercial success, reaching the top ten in several countries and receiving a platinum certification in the United Kingdom.[4][5] The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Mabel's highest charting single and her second top 10 single. "Mad Love" was released as the second single from the album, and also performed well on charts internationally.[6] The song peaked at number eight in the United Kingdom, becoming her third top 10 single. A promotional single, "Bad Behaviour", was released with an accompanying music video on 23 July 2019.[7] In order to promote the album, Mabel announced the High Expectations Tour, consisting of 24 shows in Europe and commencing in January 2020.[8]

Upon its release, High Expectations received generally positive reviews from music critics, many of whom complimented its production and the singer's vocals. The album was also a success commercially, debuting at number three on the UK Albums Chart and at number five on the Irish Albums Chart.

Background

In October 2017, Mabel released her debut mixtape, Ivy to Roses. Its lead single, "Finders Keepers", peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart and became her first top ten single. The mixtape was then reissued in January 2019, with six singles released subsequent to the original release featuring, as well as its next single "Don't Call Me Up". Her debut album, High Expectations, was announced on 18 April of the same year, with a scheduled release date of 12 July. The release date was later moved to 2 August.[9]

Singles

The album's first single, "Don't Call Me Up", was released on 18 January 2019.[10][11] It was initially included on the 2019 reissue of Ivy to Roses.[10] The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart for three consecutive weeks, making it Mabel's highest charting single in the UK.[12][13] It became her international mainstream breakthrough, charting in the top 10 in over 20 other countries including Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway where it reached the top three.[14][15] The track also became the singer's first US Billboard Hot 100 chart entry where it rose to number 66.[16][17]

"Mad Love" was released as the second single on 7 June 2019.[18] It became Mabel's third UK top-10 single, peaking at number eight,[19] and her second top-10 single in Ireland where it reached number six.[15]

"OK (Anxiety Anthem)" was positioned as the album's third single, being released alongside the album.[3] The song received a music video, directed by Jade Jackman which premiered on Dazed on 16 August 2019.[3]

"God Is a Dancer" with Tiesto and "Boyfriend" are both featured on the digital & streaming versions of the album, therefore serving as its fourth and fifth singles.

Promotional singles

The album's first promotional single, "Bad Behaviour", was released on 23 July 2019 along with a music video directed by Oliver Kane.[20][21] The track debuted at number 94 on the UK Singles Chart.[22]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic61/100[23]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash7/10[24]
DIY[25]
The Guardian[2]
musicOMH[26]
NME[27]
The Observer[28]
PopMatters[29]
Q[30]
The Skinny[1]
Uncut6/10[31]

High Expectations received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 61, based on 10 reviews.[23] Reviewing the album for musicOMH, Ben Devlin hailed it as "a convincing display of versatility and quality songwriting that firmly establishes Mabel as a force to be reckoned with in UK pop",[26] while Chris Taylor of DIY regarded it as "effortlessly cool" with "no faux-earnestness".[25] Q magazine's Laura Barton called the album "highly polished" and said the singer "perfected the art of writing songs that even on first listen sound totally ubiquitous".[30] In NME, Hannah Mylrea wrote that Mabel's "gorgeous silky vocals soar, the glossy production is stellar, but the exuberance and effervescent attitude that make tunes like 'Don't Call Me Up' so brilliant aren't found throughout."[27]

Andrew Wright of The Skinny argued that the singer found her individual identity with High Expectations which he described as well-rounded despite "some over-zealous Top 40 attempts".[1] Conversely, Joe Hale of Clash found it "almost too airbrushed, with Mabel playing it a little too safe to qualify being described as wholly original or progressive", but concluded that it had "some real highlights" and "moments of talent and flair".[24] Despite finding the album strong and well-crafted, The Guardian's Alexis Petridis also believed it lacked personality and only "occasionally hints its maker might be more interesting and individual".[2] Kitty Empire was more critical in The Observer, writing, "High Expectations is just disappointingly all right, lacking any playfulness, or top spin, or a sense of who Mabel is,"[28] while Uncut critic Johnny Sharp commented, "Despite some pleasant enough tunes, she lacks the vocal charisma to stand out from other wannabe Rihannas, Mileys and Dua Lipas."[31] Mick Jacobs of PopMatters concluded, "Though sung in a beautiful, agile voice, the album's contents lack any innovation that truly set them apart, even amongst themselves."[29]

Commercial performance

High Expectations debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart, behind Ed Sheeran's No.6 Collaborations Project and Lewis Capaldi's Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, with first-week sales of 9,761 album-equivalent units.[32] It dropped to number 10 in its second week with sales of 4,184 units.[33] On the Irish Albums Chart, it bowed at number five, the highest new entry for the chart dated 9 August 2019.[34] The album also debuted in the top 40 in Norway and Switzerland.[35][36] In the US, High Expectations entered at number 198 on the Billboard 200.[37] Hugh McIntyre of Forbes cited its debut as "a prime example of how the UK and the US music industries can be drastically different".[38]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album liner notes.[39]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."High Expectations (Intro)"
  • Jean-Marie
3:27
2."Bad Behaviour"
3:25
3."Don't Call Me Up"
Steve Mac2:58
4."FML"
Oak3:42
5."We Don't Say..."
Al Shux3:41
6."Selfish Love" (featuring Kamille)
  • Fraser T. Smith
3:12
7."Lucky (Interlude)"
Jordan Riley1:14
8."Mad Love"
  • McVey
  • Mac
  • Purcell
Mac2:49
9."Trouble"
  • McVey
  • Michael Hannides
  • Anthony Hannides
  • Lewis Allen
MakeYouKnowLove3:28
10."Put Your Name on It"
  • McVey
  • Thornycroft-Smith
  • Tyrrell Demetrius Paul
  • Smith
  • 169
3:41
11."Stckhlm Syndrome (Interlude)"
2:25
12."OK (Anxiety Anthem)"
3:36
13."I Belong to Me"
Riley2:38
14."High Expectations (Outro)"
  • McVey
  • Compass
  • Jean-Marie
  • Jean-Marie
2:25
Total length:41:41
Bonus tracks[40]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Finders Keepers" (featuring Kojo Funds)
JD. Reid4:28
16."Fine Line" (featuring Not3s)
Reid3:32
17."My Lover" (with Not3s)
  • Odunaike
  • McVey
  • Jay Weathers
  • Alistair "AoD" O'Donnell[a]
3:12
18."Ring Ring" (with Jax Jones featuring Rich the Kid)
3:38
19."Cigarette" (with Raye and Stefflon Don)
  • Twice as Nice
  • Charlie Handsome
3:08
20."Not Sayin'"
  • McVey
  • Josh Crocker
  • Kiara
  • Reid
  • Compass
  • Reid
  • Crocker
  • Gower Poole[b]
3:43
Total length:61:22
Japan bonus tracks[41]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
21."Don't Call Me Up" (R3hab Remix)
  • McVey
  • Mac
  • Purcell
Mac2:33
22."One Shot"
  • McVey
  • Kiara
  • Gabriel Kusimo
  • Reid
  • GA
  • Reid
3:55
23."Thinking of You"
Pott3:34
Total length:71:24
Digital & streaming bonus tracks[42]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Boyfriend"
Mac3:45
22."God Is a Dancer" (with Tiësto)
  • Tiësto
  • Wilkinson
2:48
Total length:67:55
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[b] signifies a vocal producer
  • ^[c] signifies a co-producer

Personnel

Credits for High Expectations adapted from Allmusic. [43]

Performers and vocals

  • Mabel – primary artist, vocals (all tracks)
  • Kamille – background vocals (tracks 3, 8), additional vocals (track 18), featured vocals (track 6)
  • Kojo Funds – vocals (track 15)
  • Not3s – vocals (tracks 16-17)
  • Rich the Kid – vocals (track 18)
  • RAYE – vocals (track 19)
  • Stefflon Don – vocals (track 19)
  • Anthony Hannides – background vocals (track 9)
  • Michael Hannides – background vocals, piano, drums (track 9)
  • 169 – background vocals, drum programming, keyboards (track 10)
  • MNEK – background vocals, (drums & keys)programming (track 12), additional vocals (track 18)
  • Kali Claire McLoughlin – background vocals (track 17)
  • Nick Trygstad – cello (tracks 1, 14)
  • Simon Turner – cello (tracks 1, 14)
  • Paulette Bayley – violin (tracks 1, 14)
  • Peter Whitfield – violin (tracks 1, 14)
  • Sarah Brandwood-Spencer – violin (tracks 1, 14)
  • Tre Jean-Marie – bass, piano, strings, synthesizer (tracks 1, 14)
  • Josh Werner – bass guitar (track 2)
  • Chris Laws – drums (tracks 3, 8)
  • Steve Mac – keyboards (tracks 3, 8)
  • Tim Laws – guitar (tracks 3, 8)
  • Al Shux – bass, drums, keys (track 5)
  • Fraser T. Smith – drum programming (tracks 6, 10), keyboards (track 10)
  • Jordan Riley – drums, keyboards (tracks 7, 13), synthesizer programming (track 7), bass, piano (track 13)
  • Lewis Allen – guitar (track 9)
  • Leo Kalyan – (drums & keys)programming (track 12)
  • Stephen Kozmeniuk – drums, strings (track 12)
  • Jimmy Napes – piano (track 13)
  • Marlon Roudette – electric guitar (track 16)
  • Alastair "AoD" O'Donnell – guitar (track 17)
  • Timucin Lam – all instruments (track 18)
  • Twice as Nice – drum, synthesizer programming (track 19)
  • Charlie Handsome – synthesizer programming, drums (track 19)
  • Josh Crocker – drums, keyboards (track 20)

Production

  • Tre Jean-Marie – production (tracks 1, 14)
  • Dre Skull – production (track 2)
  • WILDLIFE! – additional production (track 2)
  • Cameron Gower Poole – (additional) vocal production (tracks 2, 11-12)
  • Steve Mac – production (tracks 3, 8, 21(bonus))
  • Oak – production (track 4)
  • Al Shux – production (track 5)
  • Fraser T. Smith – production (tracks 6, 10)
  • Jordan Riley – production (tracks 7, 13)
  • MakeYouKnowLove – production (track 9)
  • Tyrell Paul – production (track 10)
  • Snakehips – production (track 11)
  • MXXWLL – production (track 11)
  • MNEK – production (track 12)
  • KOZ – production (track 12)
  • Leo Kalyan – additional production (track 12)
  • JD. Reid – production (tracks 15-16, 20, 22(bonus))
  • Alastair "AoD" O'Donnell – additional production (track 17)
  • Jay Weathers – production (track 17)
  • Jax Jones - production (track 18)
  • Mark Ralph - co-production (track 18)
  • Twice as Nice – production (track 19)
  • Charlie Handsome – production (track 19)
  • Josh Crocker – production (track 20)
  • GA – production (track 22(bonus))
  • Joel Pott – production (track 23(bonus))

Technical

  • Tre Jean-Marie – programming (tracks 1, 14)
  • Nosa Apollo – programming (tracks 1, 14)
  • Geoff Swan – mixing (tracks 1, 7, 14-15)
  • Lewis Chapman – assistant mixing (tracks 1, 14)
  • Bill Zimmerman – additional engineering (tracks 2, 5)
  • Phil Tan – mixing (tracks 2, 5)
  • Dan Pursey – engineering (tracks 3, 8)
  • Chris Laws – engineering (tracks 3, 8)
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (tracks 3-4, 8-9, 12)
  • Al Shux – recording (track 5)
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing (track 6)
  • Chris Galland - engineering (track 6)
  • Jordan Riley – recording (track 7)
  • Niko Battistini – mix assistant (track 7)
  • Michael Freeman – mix assistant (track 9)
  • Wez Clarke – additional programming (tracks 10, 13, 20), mixing (tracks 10, 13, 16, 20)
  • Cameron Gower Poole – mixing (track 11), recording (track 12)
  • MNEK – background vocals recording (track 12)
  • Matt Snell – assistant engineering (track 12)
  • JD. Reid – engineering (track 15), programming (tracks 15-16)
  • Jay Weathers – engineering (track 17)
  • Mike Spencer – additional engineering, mixing (track 17)
  • Mark Ralph – mixing (track 18)
  • Jamie Snell – editing (track 18)
  • Dan Parry – mixing (track 19)
  • Josh Crocker – programming (track 20)

Artwork

  • Mariano Vivanco – photography
  • Ted Lovett (Studio) – art direction and design

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] Gold 100,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 2 August 2019
Polydor [60][61][62]
Various 22 August 2019 LP (blue) [63]
Japan 4 September 2019 CD Universal [41][64]

References

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  2. ^ a b c Petridis, Alexis (1 August 2019). "Mabel: High Expectations review – confident pop lacks personality". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Peters, Alex (16 August 2019). "PREMIERE: MABEL'S MENTAL HEALTH-TACKLING 'OK, ANXIETY ANTHEM' MUSIC VIDEO". Dazed Beauty. Retrieved 19 March 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Mabel Is Moving On With New Pop Banger 'Don't Call Me Up'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  5. ^ "The Top 40 biggest singles of 2019 so far". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  6. ^ Mabel (4 June 2019). "MY NEW SINGLE MAD LOVE DROPPING THIS FRIDAY!!! Make sure u pre-save!! Can't wait for you to hear it". Twitter. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Mabel Releases Sultry Song 'Bad Behaviour,' Announces Tour: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Mabel announces 'High Expectations' headline tour". The Guide Liverpool. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Mabel announces debut album High Expectations". The FADER. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Don't Call Me Up". Amazon.com. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  11. ^ Verrico, Lisa (14 July 2019). "Mabel interview: Neneh Cherry's daughter on her High Expectations — and her battle with anxiety". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  12. ^ Copsey, Rob (2 April 2019). "The Official Top 40 biggest singles of 2019 so far". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  13. ^ Jones, Alan (1 February 2019). "Charts analysis: Ariana Grande scores easy second week at summit". Music Week. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
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  16. ^ Zellner, Xander (2 April 2019). "Mabel Scores First Billboard Hot 100 Hit With 'Don't Call Me Up'". Billboard. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
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  18. ^ Roth, Madeline (7 June 2019). "Mabel Dares You to Give Her 'Mad Love' in Eye-popping New Video". MTV News. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  19. ^ Jones, Alan (5 July 2019). "Charts analysis: Ed Sheeran dominates singles Top 10". Music Week. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
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  31. ^ a b Sharp, Johnny (September 2019). "New Albums: Mabel - High Expectations". Uncut. p. 29. ISSN 1368-0722.
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  63. ^ "Mabel - High Expectations Limited 2XLP". Urban Outfitters.
  64. ^ "ハイ・エクスペクテーションズ [初回限定スペシャル・プライス盤]". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
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