What Is Love?
Studio album by
Never Shout Never
ReleasedJanuary 26, 2010 (2010-01-26)
StudioAbbey Road Studios, London
Length20:36
LabelLoveway Records, Sire, Warner Bros.
ProducerButch Walker
Never Shout Never chronology
Never Shout Never
(2009)		 What Is Love?
(2010)		 Harmony
(2010)
Singles from What Is Love?
  1. "What Is Love?"
    Released: December 15, 2009
  2. "I Love You 5"
    Released: February 4, 2010
  3. "Can't Stand It"
    Released: March 4, 2010

What Is Love? is the first studio album by American rock band Never Shout Never, which was released on January 26, 2010.[1][2]

The album debuted at #24 on the Billboard 200 and sold 21,000 copies in its first week of its release.[3][4]

Background and release

On May 29, 2009, Never Shout Never signed to Warner Bros. Records.[5] The album was produced by Butch Walker and was recorded in Los Angeles and at Abbey Road Studios in London.[6][7] On December 3, 2009, Never Shout Never revealed the release date and track list of the album.[1]

The first single "What Is Love?" was released on December 15, 2009.[8] The music video was released in 2009 and was directed by Isaac Ravishankara.[9] "I Love You 5" was released on February 4, 2010 as the second single with the music video being released 2 days prior.[10] "Can't Stand It" was released on March 4, 2010 as the third and final single along with its music video that same day directed by Isaac Ravishankara.[11] The video includes visual references of Bob Dylan's, Dont Look Back and The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night.[11] The song peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales chart.[12]

Promotion

In support of the album, the group performed eight live shows in December 2009.[13] Christofer Drew also went on a solo acoustic tour in January 2010.[14] The group headlined the Alternative Press AP Tour in the spring of 2010 with support from Joplin, The Cab, Hey Monday, Every Avenue and The Summer Set.[15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic55/100[16]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Alternative Press[17]
Rolling Stone[18]

On Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album gained an average score of 55, based on 4 reviews, indicating "mixed to average reviews". The album was given a 2 star rating from Andrew Leahey of AllMusic. He complimented Drew's ability to write a pop melody however was critical of his vocals stating, "it's too hampered by pinched, nasal vocals to make much of an impression."[6] Scott Heisel of Alternative Press wrote, "while it is all good in the Never Shout Never camp, it's going to get better, faster than everyone thinks."[17] Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone gave the album a more negative review stating, "Drew took some bad lessons from emo and his dad's folk records. The vocals are often pained and piercing, and his manner can be gratingly precious – especially on 'Can't Stand It'."[18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Christofer Drew Ingle

No.TitleLength
1."Love Is Our Weapon"2:28
2."Jane Doe"1:55
3."Can't Stand It"2:50
4."Sacrilegious"1:51
5."I Love You 5"2:14
6."California"2:37
7."What Is Love?"2:34
8."The Past"4:07
Total length:20:36
iTunes bonus tracks[19]
No.TitleLength
9."Fifteen"1:30
10."Damn Dog"2:17
11."Can't Stand It" (music video)2:46

Personnel

Credits for What Is Love? adapted from AllMusic.[20]

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[21] 58
US Billboard 200[3] 24
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[22] 2
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[23] 2

References

  1. 1 2 "Never Shout Never News: What Is Love? album release date and tracklisting!". Never Shout Never Official Website. December 3, 2009. Archived from the original on December 17, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ "What is Love? by Never Shout Never". Apple Music. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Never Shout Never Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Billboard Magazine - February 20, 2010" (PDF). p. 35. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Never Shout Never Signs To Warner | Crazed Hits - The Music Industry's Leading A&R Site". Crazed Hits. May 25, 2009. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. 1 2 3 Leahey, Andrew. "What Is Love? – Never Shout Never Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Never Shout Never debut nearly complete". Alternative Press. September 16, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ "What Is Love? - Single by Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  9. ↑ "What Is Love? by Never Shout Never". IMVDb. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  10. ↑ Chris, Ryan (February 2, 2010). "New Video: Never Shout Never, I Love You 5". MTV. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Ryan, Chris (March 4, 2010). "Video Premiere: Never Shout Never, 'Can't Stand It'". MTV. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Never Shout Never Chart History - Rock Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Never Shout Never December tour sold out". Alternative Press. December 16, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Never Shout Never announce acoustic tour". Alternative Press. November 19, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  15. ↑ John Gonzalez (December 18, 2009). "Video: Christofer Drew talks about spirituality, tattoos and success; plus the latest on Never Shout Never's Alternative Press Tour". MLive. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  16. ↑ "What Is Love? by Never Shout Never". Metacritic. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  17. 1 2 Scott Heisel (January 18, 2010). "Never Shout Never – What Is Love?". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  18. 1 2 Christian Hoard (February 16, 2010). "Never Shout Never – What Is Love?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  19. ↑ "What Is Love? (Bonus Track Version) by Never Shout Never". Apple Music. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  20. ↑ "What Is Love? - Never Shout Never". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Canadian Albums Chart - 31 January 2010". Jam! Canoe. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Never Shout Never Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Never Shout Never Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
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