High Expectations | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 2 August 2019 | |||
Recorded | 2018–2019 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 61:22 | |||
Label | Polydor UK | |||
Producer |
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Mabel chronology | ||||
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Singles from High Expectations | ||||
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High Expectations is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Mabel, released on August 2, 2019 by Polydor UK. Originally scheduled for release on July 15, the album was pushed back to August 2. 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.
The album was supported by two singles. Lead single "Don't Call Me Up" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart for three consecutive weeks, making it Mabel's highest charting single in the UK. It became her international mainstream breakthrough, charting in the top 10 in over twenty countries. The track also became the singer's first US Billboard Hot 100 chart entry. The second and final single "Mad Love" became Mabel's third UK top-10 single, peaking at number eight.
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 commercial success, debuting at number three on the UK Albums Chart and at number five on the Irish Albums Chart.
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, featuring six additional singles including "Don't Call Me Up". High Expectations, was announced on 18 April of the same year, with a scheduled release date of July 12. The release date was later pushed back to August 2. [3]
The album's lead single "Don't Call Me Up" was released on January 18, 2019. [4] [5] It was initially included on the 2019 reissue of Ivy to Roses. [4] 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. [6] [7] 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. [8] [9] The track also became the singer's first US Billboard Hot 100 chart entry where it rose to number 66. [10] [11]
"Mad Love" was released as the second and final single from the album on June 7, 2019. [12] It became Mabel's third UK top-10 single, peaking at number eight, [13] and her second top-10 single in Ireland where it reached number six. [9]
The album's first promotional single, "Bad Behaviour", was released on July 23, 2019, alongside a music video directed by Oliver Kane. [14] [15] The track debuted at number 94 on the UK Singles Chart. [16] A music video for "OK (Anxiety Anthem)" premiered on Dazed on 16 August 2019. It was directed by Jade Jackman. [17]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 61/100 [18] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Clash | 7/10 [19] |
DIY | [20] |
The Guardian | [2] |
musicOMH | [21] |
NME | [22] |
The Observer | [23] |
PopMatters | [24] |
Q | [25] |
The Skinny | [1] |
Uncut | 6/10 [26] |
High Expectations received generally positive reviews from music critics upon its release. 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. [18] 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", [21] while Chris Taylor of DIY regarded it as "effortlessly cool" with "no faux-earnestness". [20] 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". [25] 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." [22]
Andrew Wright of The Skinny stated 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". [19] 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," [23] 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." [26] 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." [24]
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. [27] It dropped to number 10 in its second week with sales of 4,184 units. [28] On the Irish Albums Chart, it bowed at number five, the highest new entry for the chart dated 9 August 2019. [29] The album also debuted in the top 40 in Norway and Switzerland. [30] [31] In the US, High Expectations entered at number 198 on the Billboard 200. [32] Hugh McIntyre of Forbes cited its debut as "a prime example of how the UK and the US music industries can be drastically different". [33]
Mabel announced her headlining tour in the US and Canada on June 7. 2019. General sale of tickets also began on the same date. [34] UK and Europe she announced on July 19, 2019 via her social media. The general sale of tickets started on July 21, and the pre-sale of the album on July 24, 2019. [35] The support was Kali Claire - UK R&B singer and songwriter. [36] The tour commenced on January 28, 2020 in Dublin, Ireland.
Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening Act(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
North America | ||||
12 August 2019 | Cambridge | United States | The Sinclair | Maya B |
14 August 2019 | Washington | Union Stage | ||
15 August 2019 | New York | The Bowery Ballroom | ||
17 August 2019 | Toronto | Canada | Velvet Underground | |
19 August 2019 | San Francisco | United States | Slim's | |
20 August 2019 | Los Angeles | Troubadour | ||
Europe | ||||
24 August 2019 [37] [38] | London | UK | Clapham Common | - |
Reading | Little John's Farm | |||
25 August 2019 [39] | Leeds | Bramham Park | ||
31 August 2019 [40] | Costessey | Norfolk Showground | ||
1 Septemeber 2019 [41] | Liverpool | Sefton Park | ||
3 September 2019 [42] | London | Coal Drops Yard | ||
Asia | ||||
5 September 2019 | Tokyo | Japan | ELE | - |
Europe | ||||
28 January 2020 | Dublin | Ireland | 3Olympia Theatre | Kali Claire |
29 January 2020 | ||||
30 January 2020 | Belfast | Northern Ireland | Ulster Hall | |
1 February 2020 | Glasgow | Scotland | O2 Academy | |
2 February 2020 | Leeds | UK | O2 Academy | |
4 February 2020 | Liverpool | O2 Academy | ||
5 February 2020 | Manchester | O2 Victoria Warehouse | ||
7 February 2020 | Nottingham | Rock City | ||
11 February 2020 | Birmingham | O2 Academy | ||
12 February 2020 | London | Eventim Apollo | ||
21 February 2020 | Madrid | Spain | Joy Eslava | |
22 February 2020 | Barcelona | La 2 de Apollo | ||
25 February 2020 | Zurich | Switzerland | Plaza Club | |
26 February 2020 | Paris | France | Le Trianon | |
28 February 2020 | Brussels | Belgium | L’Orangerie du Botanique | |
29 February 2020 | Cologne | Germany | Gloria | |
1 March 2020 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Melkweg (The Max) | |
3 March 2020 | Berlin | Germany | Kesselhaus | |
4 March 2020 | Hamburg | Mojo | ||
5 March 2020 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Vega |
Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening Act(s)/Festival | Reason |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 February 2020 | Norwich | UK | UEA | Kali Claire | Illness [43] |
9 February 2020 | Southampton | O2 Guildhall | |||
24 February 2020 | Milan | Italy | Magazzini Generali | COVID-19 pandemic | |
8 March 2020 | Oslo | Norway | Rockefeller | ||
4 June 2020 [44] | Barcelona | Spain | Parc del Forum | - | |
19 June 2020 [45] | Landgraaf | Netherlands | Megaland | ||
25-29 June 2020 | Pilton | UK | Worthy Farm | ||
2 July 2020 [46] | Werchter | Belgium | Festivalpark | ||
3 July 2020 [47] | Dublin | Ireland | Marlay Park | ||
5 August 2020 [48] | Budapest | Hungary | Óbudai-sziget | ||
9 August 2020 | Newquay | UK | Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay | ||
14 August 2020 [49] | Helsinki | Finland | Suvilahti | ||
28 August 2020 [50] | Leeds | UK | Bramham Park | ||
29 August 2020 [51] | Reading | Little Johny's Park | |||
4 September 2020 [52] | County Laois | Ireland | Stradbally Hall | ||
5-6 September 2020 [53] | Berlin | Germany | Olympiapark |
Credits adapted from the album liner notes. [54]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "High Expectations (Intro)" |
| 1:27 | |
2. | "Bad Behaviour" | 3:25 | ||
3. | "Don't Call Me Up" |
| Mac | 2:58 |
4. | "FML" |
| Oak | 3:42 |
5. | "We Don't Say..." |
| Al Shux | 3:41 |
6. | "Selfish Love" (featuring Kamille) |
|
| 3:12 |
7. | "Lucky (Interlude)" |
| Jordan Riley | 1:14 |
8. | "Mad Love" |
| Mac | 2:49 |
9. | "Trouble" |
| MakeYouKnowLove | 3:28 |
10. | "Put Your Name on It" |
|
| 3:41 |
11. | "Stckhlm Syndrome (Interlude)" |
| 2:25 | |
12. | "OK (Anxiety Anthem)" |
| 3:36 | |
13. | "I Belong to Me" |
| Riley | 2:38 |
14. | "High Expectations (Outro)" |
|
| 2:25 |
Total length: | 41:41 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Finders Keepers" (featuring Kojo Funds) |
| JD. Reid | 4:28 |
16. | "Fine Line" (featuring Not3s) |
| Reid | 3:32 |
17. | "My Lover" (with Not3s) |
|
| 3:12 |
18. | "Ring Ring" (with Jax Jones featuring Rich the Kid) |
| 3:38 | |
19. | "Cigarette" (with Raye and Stefflon Don) |
|
| 3:08 |
20. | "Not Sayin'" |
|
| 3:43 |
Total length: | 61:22 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
21. | "Don't Call Me Up" (R3hab remix) |
| Mac | 2:33 |
22. | "One Shot" |
|
| 3:55 |
23. | "Thinking of You" |
| Pott | 3:34 |
Total length: | 71:24 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Tick Tock" (with Clean Bandit featuring 24kGoldn) |
|
| 2:58 |
2. | "West Ten" (with AJ Tracey) |
|
| 3:33 |
17. | "Boyfriend" |
| Mac | 3:45 |
24. | "God Is a Dancer" (with Tiësto) |
|
| 2:48 |
Total length: | 67:55 |
Credits for High Expectations adapted from Allmusic. [58]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Poland (ZPAV) [78] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [79] | Platinum | 300,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 2 August 2019 | Polydor UK | [80] [81] [82] | |
Various | 22 August 2019 | LP (blue) | [83] | |
Japan | 4 September 2019 | CD | Universal | [56] [84] |
High Expectations... Stripped is an acoustic version of the album recorded by Mabel at her home studio during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The album was released on 31 July 2020.
Mabel announced the album on 28 July 2020, saying "This year turned everyone's plans sideways and I’ve been using the time in my home studio to record an acoustic version of every track. Something a bit more intimate from me". [85]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "High Expectations (Intro)" (Stripped) | 2:05 |
2. | "Bad Behaviour" (Stripped) | 3:05 |
3. | "Don't Call Me Up" (Stripped) | 3:14 |
4. | "FML" (Stripped) | 3:53 |
5. | "We Don't Say..." (Stripped) | 3:15 |
6. | "Selfish Love" (Stripped) | 3:24 |
7. | "Lucky (Interlude)" (Stripped) | 1:23 |
8. | "Mad Love" (Stripped) | 3:04 |
9. | "Trouble" (Stripped) | 3:46 |
10. | "Put Your Name On It" (Stripped) | 3:17 |
11. | "Stckhlm Syndrome (Interlude)" (Stripped) | 2:29 |
12. | "OK (Anxiety Anthem)" (Stripped) | 3:52 |
13. | "I Belong to Me" (Stripped) | 2:44 |
14. | "High Expectations (Outro)" (Stripped) | 2:36 |
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