Oh, What a Life (album)

Oh, What a Life
Studio album by American Authors
Released	March 3, 2014 (2014-03-03)
Recorded	2011–13
Genre	Indie rock heartland rock folk rock rock alternative rock
Length	37:03
Label	Mercury Island
Producer	Shep Goodman Aaron Accetta
American Authors chronology
American Authors (2013) Oh, What a Life (2014) What We Live For (2016)
Singles from Oh, What a Life
"Believer" Released: March 19, 2013 [1] "Best Day of My Life" Released: March 19, 2013 "Luck" Released: March 3, 2014

Oh, What a Life is the debut studio album by American indie rock band American Authors. The album was released by Island Def Jam label Mercury Records on March 3, 2014. The album serves as a replacement to the band's eponymous 2013 extended play, American Authors.

Background

American Authors first formed in 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts as The Blue Pages. The members of the band first met at the Berklee College of Music. ^[2] The Blue Pages, after relocating to New York City, New York, recorded and independently released two extended plays, Anthropology in February 2011, ^[3] and Rich With Love in January 2012, ^[4] as name-your-price albums on online music store Bandcamp.

In 2012, The Blue Pages changed their name to American Authors. Their debut single, "Believer," garnered attention through alternative rock radio. ^[5] In January 2013, the band were signed to Mercury Records. ^[6]

Reception

Critical

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]

Soundtrack appearances

• "Best Day of My Life" was featured in a Lowe's television advertisement in the United States, a Hyundai television advertisement in the United Kingdom, a Telecom New Zealand advertisement, ^[8] a trailer for the film Delivery Man , an MLB Fan Cave commercial and is the title music of Sky Sports News' My Special Day feature. It is also featured in the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty , Konami video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 and the opening sequence for ESPN's 2013 World Series of Poker coverage.
• "Hit It" is featured on EA Sports game, FIFA 14 . ^[9]
• "Home" was featured in a movie trailer for the movie This Is Where I Leave You and in a video honoring troops and their families. ^[10]
• "Oh, What a Life" was featured in the opening montage of the 2014 ESPY Awards.

Track listing

All songs written by Zac Barnett, James Shelley, Dave Rublin, Matthew Sanchez, Shep Goodman, and Aaron Accetta, except where noted. All tracks produced by Goodman and Accetta.

Standard edition ^[11]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Believer"		3:03
2.	"Think About It"		3:04
3.	"Best Day of My Life"		3:14
4.	"Luck"		3:40
5.	"Trouble"		3:15
6.	"Hit It"		3:27
7.	"Home"		4:09
8.	"Love"		3:18
9.	"Heart of Stone"		3:07
10.	"Ghost"		2:55
11.	"Oh, What a Life"	Barnett Shelley Rublin Sanchez	3:41
Total length:			37:03

iTunes Store deluxe edition ^[11]

No.	Title	Length
12.	"Best Day of My Life" (acoustic)	3:15
Total length:		40:18

Personnel

American Authors

• Zac Barnett  – lead and background vocals, guitar, additional production
• James Adam Shelley – guitar, banjo, mandolin, background vocals, additional production
• Dave Rublin – bass guitar, background vocals, additional production
• Matt Sanchez – drums, percussion, background vocals, additional production

Additional personnel

• Aaron Accetta  – production, background vocals (all tracks); mixing (1, 3), engineering (1–7, 11)
• Shep Goodman  – production, background vocals (all tracks); mixing (1, 3), engineering (1–7, 11)
• Mark Needham  – mixing (2, 4–11)
• Chris Gehringer  – mastering
• Joe Costable – engineering (8–10), engineering assistance (2, 4–7, 11)
• JC Santalis – engineering assistance (2, 5, 8–11)
• Jay Fallon – engineering assistance (2, 5, 8–11)
• Will Brierre – mixing assistance (2, 4–11)
• Steven Defino – art direction, design, cover photo
• Meredith Truax – cover photo, photography
• Sharon Lamb – photography, art coordination
• Andrew Zaeh – photography
• Andy Proctor – package production
• Peter Blume – horn arrangement (11)
• Erica Swindell – string arrangement (11)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2014) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) [12] 35 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [13] 58 Canadian Albums (Billboard) [14] 12 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [15] 68 Scottish Albums (OCC) [16] 22 UK Albums (OCC) [17] 26 US Billboard 200 [18] 15 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [19] 3 US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [20] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position US Alternative Albums (Billboard) [21] 49 US Top Rock Albums [22] 63

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [23]	Gold	40,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway) [24]	Gold	10,000‡
United States (RIAA) [25]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. American Authors (November 21, 2012). "American Authors - Believer" – via YouTube.
2. American Authors Interview January 12, 2013 Archived February 8, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
3. "Anthropology by The Blue Pages". Bandcamp . Retrieved January 26, 2014.
4. "Rich With Love by The Blue Pages". Bandcamp . Retrieved January 26, 2014.
5. "A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Tres! American Authors, Hunter Valentine, and Clementine & The Galaxy". The Huffington Post. December 19, 2012.
6. AMERICAN AUTHORS SIGN TO MERCURY RECORDS January 31, 2013 Archived June 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
7. Monger, James Christopher. "American Authors Oh, What a Life". AllMusic. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
8. 2013 Telecom NZ Advertisement on YouTube
9. Richard Beech (September 10, 2013). "Fifa 14 soundtrack announced: Featuring Miles Kane, Bloc Party and Vampire Weekend". mirror.
10. "Honoring our troops". Youtube.com. December 23, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
11. "iTunes – Music – Oh, What a Life by American Authors". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
12. "Australiancharts.com – American Authors – Oh, What A Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
13. "Austriancharts.at – American Authors – Oh, What A Life" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
14. "American Authors Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
15. "Officialcharts.de – American Authors – Oh, What A Life". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
16. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
17. "American Authors | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
18. "American Authors Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
19. "American Authors Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
20. "American Authors Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
21. "Alternative Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2015.(subscription required)
22. "Top Rock Albums: Year End 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
23. "Canadian album certifications – American Authors – Oh, What a Life". Music Canada.
24. "Norwegian album certifications – American Authors – Oh, What a Life" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
25. "American album certifications – American Authors – Oh, What a Life". Recording Industry Association of America.