High Expectations

''High Expectations'' is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Mabel, released on 2 August 2019 by Polydor Records. 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.

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.

To promote the album, Mabel announced the High Expectations Tour, consisting of 24 shows in Europe and commencing in January 2020. Mabel later released a reissue of the album on digital and streaming services to include " God Is a Dancer" with Tiesto, "Boyfriend", "West Ten" with AJ Tracey and " Tick Tock" with Clean Bandit.

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.

Singles

The album's lead single, "Don't Call Me Up", was released on 18 January 2019. It was initially included on the 2019 reissue of ''Ivy to Roses''. 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. 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. The track also became the singer's first US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart entry where it rose to number 66.

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

The album's first promotional single, "Bad Behaviour", was released on 23 July 2019 along with a music video directed by Oliver Kane. The track debuted at number 94 on the UK Singles Chart. A music video for "OK (Anxiety Anthem)" premiered on ''Dazed'' on 16 August 2019. It was directed by Jade Jackman.

Critical reception

''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. 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", while Chris Taylor of ''DIY'' regarded it as "effortlessly cool" with "no faux-earnestness". '' 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". 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."

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". 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". 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". 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," 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." 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."

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. It dropped to number 10 in its second week with sales of 4,184 units. On the Irish Albums Chart, it bowed at number five, the highest new entry for the chart dated 9 August 2019. The album also debuted in the top 40 in Norway and Switzerland. In the US, ''High Expectations'' entered at number 198 on the ''Billboard'' 200. Hugh McIntyre of ''Forbes'' cited its debut as "a prime example of how the UK and the US music industries can be drastically different".

Tour

Mabel announced her headlining tour of the UK and Europe 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. The support was Kali Claire - UK R&B singer and songwriter. The tour started on January 28, 2020 in Dublin, Ireland.

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album liner notes.

;Notes
* signifies an additional producer
* signifies a vocal producer
* signifies a co-producer

Personnel

Credits for ''High Expectations'' adapted from Allmusic.

Performers and vocals

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

Production

* Tre Jean-Marie – production
* Dre Skull – production
* WILDLIFE! – additional production
* Cameron Gower Poole – (additional) vocal production
* Steve Mac – production
* Oak – production
* Al Shux – production
* Fraser T. Smith – production
* Jordan Riley – production
* MakeYouKnowLove – production
* Tyrell Paul – production
* Snakehips – production
* MXXWLL – production
* MNEK – production
* KOZ – production
* Leo Kalyan – additional production
* JD. Reid – production
* Alastair "AoD" O'Donnell – additional production
* Jay Weathers – production
* Jax Jones - production
* Mark Ralph - co-production
* Twice as Nice – production
* Charlie Handsome – production
* Josh Crocker – production
* GA – production
* Joel Pott – production

Technical

* Tre Jean-Marie – programming
* Nosa Apollo – programming
* Geoff Swan – mixing
* Lewis Chapman – assistant mixing
* Bill Zimmerman – additional engineering
* Phil Tan – mixing
* Dan Pursey – engineering
* Chris Laws – engineering
* Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
* Al Shux – recording
* Manny Marroquin – mixing
* Chris Galland - engineering
* Jordan Riley – recording
* Niko Battistini – mix assistant
* Michael Freeman – mix assistant
* Wez Clarke – additional programming , mixing
* Cameron Gower Poole – mixing , recording
* MNEK – background vocals recording
* Matt Snell – assistant engineering
* JD. Reid – engineering , programming
* Jay Weathers – engineering
* Mike Spencer – additional engineering, mixing
* Mark Ralph – mixing
* Jamie Snell – editing
* Dan Parry – mixing
* Josh Crocker – programming

Artwork

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

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

''High Expectations... Stripped''

''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".

Track listing

References

{{Authority control

2019 debut albums
Polydor Records albums
Capitol Records albums
Albums produced by Steve Mac
Albums produced by MNEK
Albums produced by Oak Felder
Albums produced by Fraser T. Smith
Albums produced by Al Shux
Albums produced by Tre Jean-Marie
Albums produced by Jordan Riley
Mabel (singer) albums