18 Months
by Calvin Harris
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Oct 30, 2012
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 93 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 93
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 93
  3. Negative: 8 out of 93
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  1. MARTINCARDENAS
    Nov 3, 2021
    9
    One of my favorite DJs, making a favorite album. Grab work and without a doubt, great collaborations for an excellent party, one weekend
  2. JhosepKingsley
    Jul 21, 2018
    7
    Calvin Harris demonstrates for the first time that he is in the musical field by and for always giving us a piece of good electronic music with hits included
  3. MacsMusic
    Jan 12, 2018
    8
    Is this album any good? The simple answer is yes. The main focus of this album, the music, is well-produced, catchy, and very smooth - it rarely feels rough or messy. The beats and base drops are smooth and enjoyable. "School" has funky fun electronic music. "Sweet Nothing" has an addicting beat and an amazing base drop. I've listened to that song more times than I can remember. "Iron" isIs this album any good? The simple answer is yes. The main focus of this album, the music, is well-produced, catchy, and very smooth - it rarely feels rough or messy. The beats and base drops are smooth and enjoyable. "School" has funky fun electronic music. "Sweet Nothing" has an addicting beat and an amazing base drop. I've listened to that song more times than I can remember. "Iron" is another highlight, with great music and good vocals. The music on this album is always good, and sometimes great. The lyrics, on the other hand, are pretty weak. Fortunately, the music and swaggy vocals overshadow the weak lyrics for the most part. Overall, 18 Months is a fire emoji EDM album, and probably CH's best.… Expand
  4. IloveAlternativ
    Dec 9, 2017
    10
    This album was absolutely pivotal in Calvin Harris's career. Introducing him to a wider North American audience, this thing is packed to the brim with bangers! Never really understood the hate for this record, as it was obvious he was taking a back seat to his collaborators in the singing department. That being said, Feels so close had some fantastic vocal work by him. In addition to that,This album was absolutely pivotal in Calvin Harris's career. Introducing him to a wider North American audience, this thing is packed to the brim with bangers! Never really understood the hate for this record, as it was obvious he was taking a back seat to his collaborators in the singing department. That being said, Feels so close had some fantastic vocal work by him. In addition to that, the timing of this record was EVERYTHING, 2012 was damn near peak EDM so the exposure was at a maximum. I think as time goes on and the world looks back at the whole EDM phenomena, this is definitely going to be one of the standout records of our time. Nothing crazy innovative here, just really good party music. Critics need to lighten up and look past the apparent lack of depth present here as a record doesn't necessarily need to be "deep" to be fantastic. So worth the listen, super underrated.… Expand
  5. Stefffan
    Aug 8, 2017
    10
    Definitely one of the best dance albums of all time. Collaborators are awesome and songs are bops. It's like impossible mission to repeat this album with so many hits.
  6. BlogCritic123
    Jul 5, 2016
    10
    Guys, this album is and will always be a dance music classic!
    This album is Outstanding for Pop and EDM music.

    Love the drops and the collabs are cool too
    not much to say but the album is fantastic.
  7. Jiano74
    Jan 27, 2016
    1
    Yawn. That sums up this album in one word. This was something I regretted listening to and something that is on the borderline of whether it is proper music or not.
  8. blien16
    Sep 10, 2015
    1
    18 Months seems more like a compilation album than an actual album. The singles are on par with Harris' previous works, but the rest are simply horrible produced, barely registering with the listener. It is without a doubt that the strongest songs on the album are the singles, all featuring guest vocals for one. This album is generic and derivative in nature, perhaps fitting for commercial18 Months seems more like a compilation album than an actual album. The singles are on par with Harris' previous works, but the rest are simply horrible produced, barely registering with the listener. It is without a doubt that the strongest songs on the album are the singles, all featuring guest vocals for one. This album is generic and derivative in nature, perhaps fitting for commercial success, but unlikely to be retained in the public 's memory for long. It is simply an album to dance to, with little artistic value. Compared with Harris' previous album, this album is overproduced and sacrifices creativity for mainstream success. Judging by the commercial sales of this album, it is unfortunate that this is the direction Harris will be heading in the future.… Expand
  9. asjklasjklas
    Feb 22, 2014
    5
    Electronic dance music (EDM) receiving the commercial attention it hasn't seen since the 90s created a compromise of some sort: although Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Avicii, and Zedd are guaranteed to make some gratuitously, contagiously catchy club anthems, they're uninspiring beyond that. 18 Months has to be one of the safest entries on the market right now. Besides some venturous -- butElectronic dance music (EDM) receiving the commercial attention it hasn't seen since the 90s created a compromise of some sort: although Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Avicii, and Zedd are guaranteed to make some gratuitously, contagiously catchy club anthems, they're uninspiring beyond that. 18 Months has to be one of the safest entries on the market right now. Besides some venturous -- but virtually useless -- solo works, the formula remains the same: have some female -- or occasionally a male or Harris himself -- sing some nonsensically simple lyrics over gleaming choruses before entering the "drop", which is usually just 3 to 5 chords repeated over and over again. Harris' earlier material might have fallen into that category as well, but at least it sounded somewhat refreshing at the time. If it weren't for featured collaborations coming from modern mainstream vocal machines such as Ellie Goulding, Florence Welch, Ne-Yo, or Rihanna, this album wouldn't have made the impact it's made.… Expand
  10. raviopatra
    Nov 18, 2013
    7
    The album is a very interesting take on progressive house sound. There are several tracks that appeal strongly: "Feel So Close", "We'll Be Coming Back", "Drinking from the Bottle", "Sweet Nothing", and sure, "We Found Love". Harris' production is smooth and dynamics, though when lyrics and vocals come into play some don't work out really well, especially the Ne-Yo featured track, "Let'sThe album is a very interesting take on progressive house sound. There are several tracks that appeal strongly: "Feel So Close", "We'll Be Coming Back", "Drinking from the Bottle", "Sweet Nothing", and sure, "We Found Love". Harris' production is smooth and dynamics, though when lyrics and vocals come into play some don't work out really well, especially the Ne-Yo featured track, "Let's Go". The album is enjoyable but only half of it is great.… Expand
  11. Ryanlap
    Nov 3, 2013
    4
    You know I was a little disappointed because some of the songs were just lacking personality. I loved Calvin's beats and I think Calvin is one of the best in his business. But lets be honest here this album was a disappointment. The stand outs sweet nothing and I need your love. But the rest are not special. Sorry Calvin
  12. BWETMatangi
    Aug 14, 2013
    1
    It's really sad when you wait for an album for so long, and when it comes, you only like one song. "Bounce" with Kelis is that song. The rest of the "album" I can throw in the garbage bin.
  13. panicatthefun
    Jul 10, 2013
    8
    I was overly excited to when 18 Months finally released! One thing I didn't like is that I kinda knew what was coming because of all the singles that were released before the actual release. They were all great songs although he only sang in one song! Still, its a great album. Best tracks in my opinion: Feel So Close, Sweet Nothing, Lets Go
  14. le_one
    Jun 7, 2013
    5
    This guy said that making pop songs was easier than making a sandwich. Well, now I see why he said that. The album? Uninspired forgettable generic tracks. The only track here that is not going be forgotten is "We Found Love". "Let's Go", while weak, may be the seconds best thing on the album, which is something, at least, concerning.
  15. Musicfan09
    May 12, 2013
    10
    Just forget what the critics say, this album is AMAZING. Look at the user reviews for proof. This album is full of dance gems, which will never EVER be forgotten. Amazing album, really should have better reception!
  16. James1998
    Apr 20, 2013
    6
    Quite good album, the singles are brilliant, but the rest of the songs are forgettable filler which are pure dance music which bores me, so i just listen to the singles
  17. BrunoZrZr
    Mar 21, 2013
    8
    Calvin created a new style of electronic, I think he's better than David Guetta, him songs makes ballads to relaxing and deep beats. Very worked and simple album.
  18. Duu
    Feb 4, 2013
    4
    This music is rather competently made, but 90% of the music is uninspired. This music was 100% made for the lowest common denominator listener, especially drunk college students. Considering the amount of talented singers on this album, they add almost nothing to the tracks which are inherently stiff and uninteresting music, with the levels to everything turned all the way up. The songs onThis music is rather competently made, but 90% of the music is uninspired. This music was 100% made for the lowest common denominator listener, especially drunk college students. Considering the amount of talented singers on this album, they add almost nothing to the tracks which are inherently stiff and uninteresting music, with the levels to everything turned all the way up. The songs on this album have no appeal other than being really loud and regular, so that if you are trying to dance when drunk, you are likely to be able to dance on beat. This music is basically background music turned up really loud.… Expand
  19. leonardo145
    Dec 15, 2012
    10
    Just seeing the greatest british artists and others(rihanna) and the special tune of Calvin Harris makes this album perfect. In the next album, he has to create more songs like Feel so Close, his voice is so deep and folk that stays wonderful with the electro

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Most Discussed Album of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. PopMatters
    Feb 6, 2013
    50
    While 18 Months, Harris’s third solo full-length, is pretty much the hit-making monster that launched him in to the world spotlight, the truth of the matter is that it feels like a rather compromised vision of who he is an artist, sacrificing his quirkiness for a brooding new persona that starts to get stale over the course of a complete full-length.
    Read full review
  2. NOW Magazine
    Dec 13, 2012
    40
    this sounds like the soundtrack to the hell of cheese-ball Las Vegas bottle service clubs.
    Read full review
  3. Q Magazine
    Nov 21, 2012
    40
    In a half-hearted effort to dilute the homogeneity, Harris grouts 18 Months with flimsy instrumentals, as if to create the illusion of a proper album. He's not fooling anyone--maybe not even himself. [Dec 2012, p.108]
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