REVIEW #1: 84/100

Sooo… Shawn Mendes huh! Certainly a.. controversial figure in the world of metacritic. Although his first two albums didn’t fare brilliantly, receiving mixed reviews from critics, his 3rd project was considered much better and a step in the right direction for Shawn. Now, we get to see how he transfers this new-found acclaim into a full length album, rather than the EP from before and I have to say, i’m excited!

The album starts out with “Bite” a song directed at Hilary Duff, Shawn’s former girlfriend who recently released her debut album “Spellbound”, which was heavily inspired by their relationship. With this one I would say Shawn is off to a slow but strong start! The production in this one is really nice, I like it. It feels very atmospheric but not overpowering which I love. The song is pretty good lyrically, although the chorus and the outro are the clear standouts in terms of lyrics for me. The song feels very ‘Shawn’ but still feels like a bit of an evolution, which makes it a strong opener! Moving on to smash #2 peaking single (blame Frank Ocean!!!!) “A Question In Time”, I think we’ve all heard this by now. Thematically, the song tackles a really interesting and fresh subject which is really nice to see. Sometimes the lyrics are very on the nose which can be really striking but at other points he gets the message across beautifully (“I’m just a drop in the ocean / Swept up in the wake of a passing ship” might be one of my favourite lyrics from the album!) so I wish it was a bit more consistent in that sense? Still, hard to call this track anything other than really solid! “This Is The Last Time” starts off really strong. Like, it immediately catches my attention which doesn’t always happen with Shawn tracks and continues throughout. The song also works well lyrically in my opinion. It’s not trying to be overtly complex but it gets the message across in a clean and effective way. Definitely a favourite so far! I will say though, the song does feel like it drags on just a little bit. Thankfully the sound is interesting so it isn’t a major issue, just something I noticed!

Alright, onto “Trouble”. My toe immediately started tapping when this came on which I think is a good sign! But yeah, this kind of follows This Is The Last Time in being another really interesting track from Shawn production wise. It just does something! Lyrically I can’t say it’s my favourite but I don’t see any major issues with it or anything like that. The production is the clear shining factor in this one, which is no bad thing at all! The track is pretty long like the previous one but this time doesn’t feel like it drags out too much which I'm glad about. “God” is already the track that has me most excited. I mean, that name! The GP are fuming already! The song feels very haunting and, just skimming over the lyrics, very personal. I’m really loving the pre-choruses especially here, and verses 2 & 3 are probably among my favourite of the whole album! At some points I wish the song kinda went somewhere, built up to something. I can totally see why it didn’t though so it’s not a huge issue. However, I don’t know whether it’s this song in particular or the consequence of it following 2 songs I felt similarly about but it does feel like it drags on just a bit more than the rest. Maybe it’s just me! Sun Chaser… I think i’d give this one a 2? I’m kidding! This track is absolutely stunning. The production is incredibly soothing, the message is sweet. Of course, the main highlight is in the LYRICS. One of the best written songs i’ve seen and easily the best in Shawn’s discography in my opinion. This track alone shows Shawn’s aptitude for conveying emotion so effortlessly in his songs and it’s by far the standout of the album.

I have to admit, the title “Haunted” already has me intrigued! From the sounds of it, so does the production which excites me. It’s clear that much of this is inspired by the reception and experience of his first two records, and it’s really fascinating to see how Shawn’s perception has changed as he’s improved. Especially for long-term fans, I can tell this song will be a stand-out as Shawn writes about something he and his fans have experienced together, making it very special and personal between them. I think that’s the thing that stands out most from this track, the theme. Not that the lyrics, the production or anything like that is bad, it just feels like it’s trying to do something that other tracks on the album have already done better. “Anything But Down” feels like a vulnerable and nice change of pace for the album that I think it really needed at this point. So props for that! It does things a little differently production wise which I like here and lyrically it’s very raw and reflective which I think suits Shawn really well. AND the song feels like it builds up to something which is a huge added bonus! Another stand out for sure! “Underneath It All” is probably the only song I'm not totally in love with. It’s not bad by any means, it just doesn’t feel like it brings much new to the table in terms of the album and lyrically I wouldn’t say it’s one of the stronger tracks either. However, the chorus and bridge are complete standouts from the track production-wise and really save the track for me.

I’m actually really sad we’re hitting the last two tracks! The penultimate track, “As Good As It Gets”, was released as a promo single prior to the album so we’ve heard it before. Production wise, the song suffers a similar feeling of familiarity which kills it a little bit for me but it has it’s moments where it sets itself apart which definitely helps.. However, the lyrics are what really help redeem it in my opinion! They’re pretty simple, sure, but I think that’s all they need to be here. Without trying to make them overly complex, Shawn puts across the message of the song in a strong way. And finally, we have “Poetry”. This is kind of like an extended outro I think but it’s easily one of my favourites from the album. The production is pretty minimal, but still unique enough where it doesn’t feel drowned in the rest of the album. The lyrics again show Shawn at his most vulnerable and that isn’t something that goes unnoticed. The whole idea behind the song, being a voicemail to his now boyfriend Connor, is evident in how personal the lyrics are and is sure to be appreciated by fans. A definite highlight and a beautiful ending!

Overall, this is a beautiful album. It’s consistent, it vulnerable and quite honestly Shawn at his very best. His growth from his debut project to now is very impressive and shows he’s an artist dedicated to improving his work. The album isn’t without its flaws, at least in my opinion, but it’s still an impressive body of work that Shawn should be very proud of. With easy career highlights such as Sun Chaster and Anything But Down, it’s clear that Shawn is determined to continue growing as an artist. And we love to see it! Congratulations Shawn!

 

 

 

 

REVIEW #2: 65/100

What is an artist without their self titled LP moment? You guessed it, not an artist! Which is why Shawn Mendes’ eponymous third studio album doesn’t feel out of nowhere or misplaced. In fact, this record might just be Mendes’ natural next step. Following the success of his extended play, “The Miami Experiment”, the singer has shown promise and growth has been forecasted in his career. And, to an extent, that growth is shown on this album. In fact, how can it not? An album that was written by the artist themselves will show both their strengths and weaknesses, which is by far a very mature approach to a third album.

And, while we’re at it, the word maturity seems to play a big role in this album. In fact, the very first song plays a lot on that theme. Written about Mendes’ break-up with country pop newcomer Hilary Duff, the song titled “Bite” gives the other half of the story to a short-lived and maybe forgettable relationship. That being said, this is for sure a strong introduction into the record. With a mellow lullaby-like production, the singer paints a vivid and painful image of Duff’s confession. And while the production doesn’t bring much to the table, the storylining in the lyrics and the evocation of past events into words is almost perfect, save for a few cliche and dull moments. One thing is clear, though. Mendes is here to wear his heart on his sleeve and then some.

Following the strong opener is the album’s lead single and Shawn’s very first #1. While the achievements attached to the song are impressive, what’s maybe even more is the fact that this track became the world’s introduction to the album. A track that talks about the unbearing weight of fame and its dehumanizing effects being one’s biggest hit single is for sure sweet irony. However, that doesn’t make the song any better. In fact, hearing the whole album from start to finish makes you realize that maybe this wasn’t the most obvious choice. Not because of its message, but because of its overall quality. The lyrics are overall very on point and aware of what fame really does to those who get it, but it almost feels like they scream “insecurity”. Mendes would rather accept that he’s being seen as a failure if he does not succeed rather than trust his own abilities. He would rather let others dictate how he feels about his work instead of appreciating his own hard work. “I’m just a drop in the ocean / Swept up in the wake of a passing ship”, he sings, as he makes himself smaller than he really is. The production remains just as empty as before; a running mill for the lyrics instead of the element that elevates the song.

One thing becomes clear at this point in the album, though. All the songs are extremely emotional and very personal. “This Is The Last Time” is no stranger to that. This song is picking up the tempo after the previous track, both lyrically and sonically. With a production that shakes the overall sound of the LP, it is very obvious why Mendes hesitated to add this song onto the album. The lyrics are presenting us a side of the Canadian singer that we haven’t seen yet. On a song talking about broken friendship, he seems to be at his strongest, most confident. Which is a great change of pace from “Question” and a very big plus for how this track is received by the listener. While the lyrics are obviously written by the same person who wrote the other 2, their simplicity and usage of expressions are tossed aside due to their self-assured nature. The enraged production helps immensely too, as they do not seem to serve as background noise for the message anymore.

“Trouble” comes on next and… we fall back into old habits. The confidence is gone and we meet the obedient, quiet Shawn once again. This time, his mouth is being shut in front of the conservative crowd. Although he does seem to be standing more on his own feet than he seemed to do on “Question”, it still feels like he’s sitting on a fine line between standing up for himself (“I'm expected to say I'm sorry”) and a desperate need for acceptance (“Am I really who you make me out to be? / Or do you just need something to bitch about?”). “I must toe a line” he sings at a certain point, as if he owes somebody something, as if he was put on this Earth to please a crowd that wasn’t and will never be on his side. Negative aspects aside, the structure of the song is very interesting, especially in the pre-chorus. It is obvious that the song could be great, should the artist show us a perspective where he does not try to be a crowd pleaser. The production, however, does virtually nothing of substance.

What I find ironic about this album is the placement of “Trouble” and “God”. A song about being the victim of disapproval while wanting the opposite being followed by a track describing non-believing in what one is being told about religion from the “society”. Even more ironic is how one is the opposite of the other. “God” shines in every way possible on this album, taking all the lows we’ve seen so far and turning them into highs. The insecurity and lack of belief in a divine being mixed with the mellow production comes in handy with the well-written, metaphors-filled lyrics. In fact, this song gives maybe one of the strongest segments of the entire first half: “I'm afraid of what they preach / So if you know what I've been through / Like I'd like to believe you do / Say something, say anything to me”. We’ve seen this fretful nature of Mendes before, but this time, it is warranted. It comes from a place of fear and hurt. It feels natural and makes the listener see his perspective without trying too hard. And the same thing can be said about the next song, “Sun Chaser”. Actually, there is nothing to be said about this one. From start to finish, it is a beautifully written track. The lyrics are emotional and the simple production makes “Sun Chaser” one of the best, if not THE best, song in Mendes’ discography.

Now, in another ironic turn of events, we go from an absolute highlight to a complete disaster. “Haunted” comes in very slowly, sneaking up on you like the snake wrapping around a tree in the Garden of Eden. It surrounds you with a beautiful, better production than most of the previous tracks and you almost fall in the trap. Until the song hits you. Not only do the lyrics beg the listener for some compassion, the overall feeling of the track is beyond off putting. Mendes’ cheesiness in his pursuit for sympathy for how he’s been treated takes away from what could’ve been a great song with a great message. Yet, while he complains about his treatment, the singer seems to rather want to take all the hits instead of trying to stand up for himself (very obvious in the bridge), even though the treatment is unfair towards him (second verse). This “virtue”, also present in “A Question of Time”, is hundred times worse on “Haunted”.

Deep breath. Inhale, exhale. “Anything But Down” comes on next. After the exhausting experience on the previous track, this one is a beautiful change of pace. The thing that shines the most about it is the production. It is true that we have seen the orchestral elements before in the album, but they hit the best on this one. Even the lyrics are substantially better, save for the lazy bridge. One thing that hurts the song the most is the fact that it follows “Haunted”. Otherwise, this is a good song. “If I was twice the man I am right now / I still wouldn’t be half of what you need” are among the strongest lines on the album and the Disney-original movie production makes this even better. The next two songs are also suffering from the draining experience that was “Haunting”, but they are both better than that. “Underneath It All”, although a little bit dull and cheesy, has a nice sentiment and freshens up the production a little bit. “As Good As It Gets”, the album’s only promotional single, perks up the lyrical side of the album, bringing to the forefront a song in which Mendes talks about his mental health without begging for sympathy from the listener. The verses are well written and the flow of the rhymes are perhaps among the best on the whole album! Sonically, though, this song could’ve used maybe a little more attention as the production gets very same-y at this point. Ending the album is “Poetry”. An interesting way to do it! From the get-go, this song starts with a voicemail, promising something different, something more vibrant. Yet, the song starts and it is, for one last time, a case of the instrumental being background noise for the lyrics’ message. And it is a great one at that. We see Shawn wearing his heart on his sleeve, shouting his love and admitting to ignoring the man of his dreams for somebody else.

Overall, this album is for sure an improvement from “Human”. In fact, this is Mendes’ best LP. Touching on themes such as fame, love, family, friendship and religion, the singer is victorious in showing us that he can. But his biggest shortcoming remains his fear of branching out. We’ve seen him do so on “The Miami Experiment” and his self titled album is, basically, a step forward in a wrong direction. While the usage of orchestra and minimal guitar-driven production works in certain points, in others, they turn what could be career highlights into a snooze fest. Which makes me wonder how much better this record would’ve been with an outside perspective, somebody to ground the two sole producers and make the singer realize that his insecurity makes the most personal moments of the album unbearable. Yes, Shawn, you are haunted by work you can’t change, but for how long are you going to allow yourself to be the fool and when are you going to stand up for yourself?

God tier: Sun Chaser, God
Mid tier: Bite, Anything But Down, This Is The Last Time,  Poetry, Underneath It All
Low tier: As Good As It Gets, Trouble, A Question of Time
Bottom tier: Haunted

 

 

 

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REVIEW #3: 90/100

After dropping the well-received The Miami Experiment, Shawn Mendes treats us to his first full-length release since 2019’s Human. Shawn’s music has had an interesting history and response from critics alike prompting negative responses to much of his earlier material. His latest self-titled record, though, looks to change that. I’m going to cut the chase and just say it; this album is incredible. Few albums have managed to capture my attention like this and engage me emotionally on such an intimate level. The album opens up with a personal favorite of mine - “Bite”. Right from the beginning, we see a stripped back and vulnerable side of Shawn that the record continually showcases track after track. 

I won’t lie, this is a heavy album, but in the best way possible. “Bite” sets the tone for what is to follow which is an album devoid of any filler tracks. It is very obvious how much Shawn’s heart and soul went into every line of this album. Never did I finish a song feeling like something was rushed or uninspired. I appreciate how intentional and direct Shawn was in his writing with this record. Whether it’s speaking candidly about his relationship with fame (“A Question of Time”, “Trouble”, “Underneath It All”), his faith (“God”), his own mistakes (“Haunted”, “Poetry”), or his relationship struggles (“This is the Last Time”, “Bite”), I find myself hanging on every single word and even finding a sort of empathy and emotional response to situations I myself have not experienced.

“Sunchaser” is one of, if not, the standout track(s) from the album. Listening to it for the first time brought me to tears as well as a sense of comfort to the grief I have experienced in my own life. The album is a cinematic experience. The production creates an atmosphere surrounding the lyrics that takes you out of reality and into your own emotional state of mind, playing like an intentionally crafted soundtrack. Speaking of production, this album handles that side of things very well. Sonically, the record gives just enough from song to song that keeps you intrigued both in the message and sound of the songs without distracting from the heart and emotion of the moment. Although there are spots where the production can tend to sound a little too same-y, those instances are brief. Adding a song that changed up tempo or maybe added a little more energy into the production would have resolved that issue, perhaps. It’s obvious, though, that the point of this record was to reflect Shawn’s own emotional and personal journey, which does not always bring out the most danceable or easy-listening music, and rightfully so.

It is hard for me to put into words how much this album impacted me. What I can say is that it comes down to the honesty and authenticity of what Shawn is saying in these songs. Not only is it relatable, but it’s comforting to see such openness from someone with a platform such as this talking about emotions and feelings we all experience. When Shawn sings these lyrics he has written, you can tell he really means it. He didn’t just write them because the idea sounded nice, or maybe because he needed to switch up themes on the record, or because some writer from Nashville pitched him the idea in a songwriting session. This album comes from a place of honesty and exposed pain, and it’s that reason why I will continue to keep coming back to it.