''Identified'' is the second
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
by
Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Anne Hudgens (; born December 14, 1988) is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in ''Thirteen'' (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the ''High School Musical'' film series (2006â ...
, released on July 1, 2008 in the U.S. June 24, 2008 in Japan, February 13, 2009 in most European countries and February 16, 2009 in the United Kingdom. The album received generally positive reviews from music critics. Hudgens embarked on her first concert tour,
Identified Summer Tour between August and September 2008 in support of the album.
Release
Singles
"
Sneakernight" was released as the first and only single from the album. The track, produced by
J.R. Rotem, was released on May 27, 2008 in the United States and February 8, 2009 in Europe. The song peaked at number 88 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. The music video was filmed by Malcolm Jones and premiered on June 13, 2008.
Critical reception
''Identified'' has received generally favorable reviews, having a 63 "metascore" based on 7 reviews. ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' said that the album "panders to the preteen demo with stop-start pop that ranges from pleasant (the title track) to dull ("Amazed") to off-putting ("Hook It Up"). But for little girls, this is one nonstop sing-along."
''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' said that "a handful of songs like this would have sufficed to help mature her image, and yet "Identified" is far more interesting and unexpected."
''
Blender
A blender (sometimes called a mixer or liquidiser in British English) is a kitchen appliance, kitchen and laboratory appliance used to mix, crush, purée or emulsion, emulsify food and other substances. A stationary blender consists of a blender ...
'' gave it a three stars out of five, and claimed that her "voice was made to rip, and when she lets go just a little, the coyness turns sultry—proof that she might just have a life after high school." ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' said that ''Identified'' "shows that the ''High School Musical'' veteran is definitely ready to graduate. The better parts of the album find her reaching for a more mature sound, but she hedges her bets with large portions of treacly teen-pop...The weakest link in most of the songs is Hudgens thin, piping voice."
Track listing
Personnel
The following people contributed to ''Identified''
*
Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Anne Hudgens (; born December 14, 1988) is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in ''Thirteen'' (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the ''High School Musical'' film series (2006â ...
– lead vocals
*
Lil Mama
Niatia Jessica Kirkland (born October 4, 1989), better known by her stage name Lil Mama, is an American rapper, singer, actress and television presenter from Brooklyn, New York and Harlem, New York. She experienced top 10 ''Billboard'' placeme ...
– featuring vocals
*
Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Anne Hudgens (; born December 14, 1988) is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in ''Thirteen'' (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the ''High School Musical'' film series (2006â ...
,
Rock Mafia
Rock Mafia is an American record production team, consisting of Tim James and Antonina Armato who have been active since the early 2000s. They have written and produced 38 top ten singles, and have sold over 50 million records worldwide. They hav ...
,
Cathy Dennis
Catherine Roseanne Dennis (born 25 March 1969)Gregory, Andy (2002) ''International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002'', Europa; , p. 133 is a British singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. She was the vocalist for D Mob, which had the su ...
,
Kara DioGuardi
Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi (; born December 9, 1970) is an American songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, and singer. She writes music primarily in the pop rock genre. DioGuardi has worked with many popular artists; sales o ...
,
Leah Haywood
Leah Jacqueline Cooney, known professionally as Haywood (formerly Leah Haywood), is an Australian record producer, songwriter and singer.
Born in New Zealand, she grew up in Perth, Western Australia, and recorded a top 40 album, ''Leah'', re ...
,
Nasri,
Tim James, Ashley Valentin,
Christopher Rojas
Christopher Rojas (born 1982) is a multi-platinum composer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is also the co-founder of DigiTour Media.
Biography
Rojas grew up in Flushing, Queens and attended Hunter College High School from 1994†...
, Carlos Alvarez – additional and background vocals
*
Lukasz Gottwald
Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald (born September 26, 1973), known professionally as Dr. Luke, Tyson Trax, and Made in China, is an American record producer and songwriter. His professional music career began in the late-night television sketch comedy ...
– keyboards
* Jack Daley – bass
* Tyrone Johnson,
Scott Jacoby – guitar
Production
*
Jonathan "J.R." Rotem,
Dr. Luke
Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald (born September 26, 1973), known professionally as Dr. Luke, Tyson Trax, and Made in China, is an American record producer and songwriter. His professional music career began in the late-night television sketch comedy ...
,
Christopher Rojas
Christopher Rojas (born 1982) is a multi-platinum composer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is also the co-founder of DigiTour Media.
Biography
Rojas grew up in Flushing, Queens and attended Hunter College High School from 1994†...
,
Emanuel Kiriakou
Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou (born August 16, 1966) is an American songwriter, producer, record executive, music publisher and multi-instrumentalist, based in Los Angeles. He recently co-wrote and produced " Take You Dancing" by Jason Derulo, and has ...
, Devrim Karaoglu, Daniel James,
Scott Jacoby,
Antonina Armato
Antonina Armato is an American songwriter, record producer, music producer and businesswoman. She is the co-founder and member of Rock Mafia, a record production/songwriting team. Antonina is credited for writing and producing for artists begin ...
, Matt Beckley – executive producers
* Chris Gehringer – mastering
* Nick Banns – mastering assistant
* Jason Recon Coons, Matty Green, Steve Hammons,
Scott Jacoby, Emily Wright – engineers
* Jon Lind, Mio Vukovic – A&R
* Miranda Penn Turin – photography
Chart performance
''Identified'' debuted at #23 on the US
''Billboard'' 200 with 22,000 copies sold in its first week, 12,000 less than her first album, ''V''.
Charts
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
Release history
References
{{Authority control
2008 albums
Vanessa Hudgens albums
Albums produced by Benny Blanco
Albums produced by Dr. Luke
Albums produced by Emanuel Kiriakou
Albums produced by J. R. Rotem
Albums produced by Rock Mafia
Albums produced by the Messengers (producers)
Hollywood Records albums