Handwritten
by Shawn Mendes
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Apr 14, 2015
User Score
6.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 246 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 159 out of 246
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 246
  3. Negative: 69 out of 246
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  1. carmnen3
    Sep 29, 2016
    10
    he is so talented what a voice he has. it is true that he has a pretty face bust he also has an amazing talent and he is so open with people and so cheerful. an artist needs more then jusdt voice, and he has it all.
  2. 0000000g
    Apr 16, 2015
    10
    ja pensaram em parar de dar nota negativa no metacritic pra album por que não foi com a cara do cantor e irem comer uma xoxotinha?? pois o cd esta otimoh
  3. Lordeney
    Apr 18, 2015
    10
    eu te amo muito gostoso do caralho me fode porra o cd é ótimo parabens merece 100 com certeza te amooooooooooooo seu lindo e quem botar 0 vai se fuder tá ligado
  4. paulotenniel
    Apr 17, 2015
    10
    O CD TA ÓTIMO, MELHOR CD, ME ENGOLE TODOOOOO, UM DOS MELHORES ÁLBUNSDE 2015 ATÉ AGORA, VEM HIT, JÁ VOU COMPRAR #BUY, COMPREM TA MT BOMM, AMO ESSE CDDD
  5. lucastle1
    Apr 15, 2015
    10
    Best male teen album since Nick Jonas by Nick Jonas, this album is amazing, it's a good debut and i hope he grow up in the industry, this guy deserves it, justin bieber could neverrrrr
  6. GustoKsmva
    Oct 16, 2015
    10
    o album é otimo, cheio de canções emocionantes/apaixonadas, impossivel esquecer a voz do shawn, nao merecia o amarelo tour, shawn mendes nao é algo comun igual a justin bieber.
  7. Gamby
    Apr 21, 2015
    10
    UM DOS MELHORES ÁLBUNS DE 2015 SIM, RESTA ACEITAR, VOU ATÉ COMPRAR ESSA BELEZURA
    VOCÊS DEVIAM PARAR DE DAR NOTA NEGATIVA PRO ÁLBUM SENDO QUE ELE É ÓTIMO, VÃO LAVAR UMA LOUÇA
  8. luislemos
    Jun 25, 2015
    8
    O álbum não é tão ruim como alguns estão falando, tem músicas descartáveis sim, mas também tem hinos como Stitches, Life Of The Party e Aftertaste. Senti falta de Show You.
  9. Maurus
    Apr 20, 2015
    9
    It's hard to judge the debut album of a so young singer, in a age that we are still discovering our own identity. The content is not much different of other teen-boy's albums, but it sure sounds more honest and alive than them.

    Attention to 'Never Be Alone', 'Stitches', and 'Aftertaste'.
  10. mirelle144
    Apr 18, 2015
    10
    this is one of the best albums of 2015 ever! shawn is amazing and i loved all the musics! really talent!!!11!! really love shawn!1!! amazing!!!!!!!!!!
  11. millenaborcoski
    Apr 16, 2015
    10
    I really loved this album, I'm so proud of shawn that barely fits me. There are songs that I dismiss as The Weight, but others, I don't get tired of hearing as Air, Crazy, Imagination, Bring it back. By far one of the best male teen albums, second only to Nick Jonas by Nick Jonas. I love so much this guy, omfg.
  12. DanielSaldanaG
    Feb 20, 2016
    9
    In a few words, it's one of the best albums by a man in 2015. Shawn did an excellent vocal performance in this one. The album has really good lyrics overall. The acoustic recording and production here is pretty nice. In the other hand, some tracks are actually pretty week and tend to imbalance the album essence, which can be counterproductive and it leaves Handwritten with a few songs thatIn a few words, it's one of the best albums by a man in 2015. Shawn did an excellent vocal performance in this one. The album has really good lyrics overall. The acoustic recording and production here is pretty nice. In the other hand, some tracks are actually pretty week and tend to imbalance the album essence, which can be counterproductive and it leaves Handwritten with a few songs that can serve as singles.… Expand
  13. henry45
    Apr 16, 2015
    10
    otimo album ,uma biblia teen , shawn seraa o futuro rei teen , alem de ser gostoso e deve ter uma piroca bm grande, rostinho de anjo ,jeito de comedor esse e o shawn ,aposto q sao as belieber q estao dando nota negativa pq sabem q o shawn vai barrar o justin bieber ,recocadas
  14. leonardohita
    Apr 14, 2015
    10
    Well, Shawn it's not a "new Justin Bieber" him is the " First Shawn Mendes", This album is very amazing, your vocals is the best of a teen, it's much better than Justin Bieber and Cody Simpson. Shawn Mendes it's a bet in this year.
  15. savannamartins
    Apr 15, 2015
    10
    It is one of the best male teens albums released this decade, Shawn is really proving that prefer quality than simply hitar with a garbage music. He has an incredible future ahead
  16. MatheusSouza
    Oct 21, 2015
    10
    O Handwritten merece um 10 só pelo fato de todas as canções presentes nele serem ótimas. Os vocais, as letras e a emoção que o Shawn Mendes pôs nesse álbum, fazem dele um trabalho especial, que ao mesmo tempo que apresenta canções agitadas como "Something Big", apresenta canções apaixonantes como "Air"
    Com certeza um dos melhores álbuns de 2015.
  17. cammillyoliver
    Apr 15, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best album in the year, Grammy is coming soon... love it! I loved his songs, and her style, i'ts a good debut! Sorry, but it's true. Others could never… Expand
  18. SimeonLee
    Apr 16, 2015
    10
    I generally like the album. It's really nice, with some catchy hooks. The kid has done nothing wrong don't hate on him. His lyrics and sound is real and pure, not electric. I like it.
  19. biammansour
    Apr 15, 2015
    10
    This is the first Album of Shawn Mendes, for a Beginner is a Perfect album with Sweet Lyrics, Great Job. he is just starting her carrer, so I think that is good for a ''Start''.
  20. MarcosMendes13
    Jul 25, 2017
    10
    Simplesmente maravilhoso, qualidade sonora perfeita, letras perfeitas, melodias únicas e lindas, muito bom pra se ouvir quando ta na bad e tudo mais. Um álbum desses bicho merece mais que 10!! Essas pessoas q deram nota 0 nem se quer devem ter escutado ou tem algum problema serio de audição. é isso.
  21. ee_chaux
    Dec 17, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Arte arte arte arte arte arte arte amamos a un rey, sencillamente hermoso de inicio a fin… Expand
  22. Ksluba
    Dec 5, 2020
    10
    Eu amo esse álbum, tem uma sonoridade única que me cativa enquanto ouço.
  23. Arayza
    Dec 10, 2020
    10
    Es un gran álbum, llevando consigo canciones con un buen contenido lírico
  24. GuilhermeMeirel
    Oct 20, 2015
    10
    amoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
  25. Maribon96
    Oct 2, 2017
    8
    è solo io suo primo album ma ammetto che ha un enorme talento, oramai lo seguo dal 2014 e credo possa fare molto di più per me. Ha del talento che deve essere apprezzato e non andrebbe comparato ad Ed Sheeran. Aspetterò che cresca un po' di più musicalmente.
  26. hallodoei
    Aug 23, 2016
    9
    Why does this have so many bad reviews? I really liked the album. It's his first album so of course it isn't perfect. But it's really good for a first album and was only 16 when he made it.
  27. manu_carnevale
    Apr 22, 2018
    7
    After his new albums, It's pretty easy to notice the growth and the improvements of this guy. This still remains a nice project to start with.
  28. YunuenMendes
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    Tal vez a algunos no les gusta porque es aburrido dicen, pero cuando empiesas a escucharlo con mas calma y sin tanta critica de que tiene que ser una canción con ritmo para que todo el mundo se la aprenda
    Me encanta el album y las letras de las canciones son hermosas
  29. lucasmelonds
    Jan 13, 2018
    10
    This album is so underrated! He deserved more, great vocals, beautiful lyrics, custom instruments, he wrote most of the songs on the album at the age of 15 and had a great result for a debut album.
  30. NolanLundgaard
    Apr 11, 2020
    8
    Handwritten by Shawn Mendes: 7.66

    Life Of The Party: 1 Stitches: 1 :) Never Be Alone: 1! Kid In Love: 0.75 I Don’t Even Know Your Name: 1 :) Something Big: 1 :) Strings: 0.5 Aftertaste: 0.75 Air: 0.75 Crazy: 0.5 A Little Too Much: 0.75 This Is What It Takes: 1 Bring It Back: 1 Imagination: 1 The Weight: 1 I Know What You Did Last Summer: 1 :) 14/16 = .875 -> 7.66    Handwritten by Shawn Mendes: 7.66

    Life Of The Party: 1
    Stitches: 1 :)
    Never Be Alone: 1!
    Kid In Love: 0.75
    I Don’t Even Know Your Name: 1 :)
    Something Big: 1 :)
    Strings: 0.5
    Aftertaste: 0.75
    Air: 0.75
    Crazy: 0.5
    A Little Too Much: 0.75
    This Is What It Takes: 1
    Bring It Back: 1
    Imagination: 1
    The Weight: 1
    I Know What You Did Last Summer: 1 :)

    14/16 = .875 -> 7.66

    As you all know, I really enjoyed listening to Ed Sheeran, and I wanted to listen to more stuff like his. I looked him up and Taylor Swift came up, who I also really loved, and Shawn Mendes, who I had not reviewed yet. I then decided to listen to Handwritten, Mendes’ debut album, and I’m so glad I did. I had heard Stitches before, and loved it, and was therefore excited to try it. None of the other songs (except I Know What You Did Last Summer) were as upbeat as Stitches, but they were still very catchy nonetheless and were married to amazing lyrics. This is something I had missed since finishing Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran’s most recent albums. The second half of Handwritten was especially good. The only unimportant critique I have is some of the songs sounded a bit similar, as most here are acoustic tracks. Besides that, I was very happy with what I heard, and I would recommend Shawn Mendes to all lovers of pop and acoustic music. I look forward to listening to Illuminate. Highlights: Life Of The Party, Stitches, Never Be Alone, I Don’t Even Know Your Name, Something Big, This Is What It Takes, Bring It Back, Imagination, The Weight, and I Know What You Did Last Summer.    … Expand
  31. alexc4761
    Jul 6, 2018
    8
    Handwritten shows Shawn Mendes's youth in a variety of ways. Although immature at times, Shawn Mendes hits his target audience of teenagers with some upbeat songs and some fine lyricism. It may be perceived as bland at some time and some song sound alike, but it is a rather fun album. it is a great start for Mendes and shows his potential.
  32. Tayloroutsold
    Sep 3, 2019
    10
    AMAZING ALBUM OMG I LOVE IT SO MUCH. REMINDS ME OF TAYLOR SWIFT'S DEBUT ALBUM, but with better sound
  33. cipriano
    Feb 7, 2020
    7
    Shawn Mendes did a good job on his first album, has a beautiful vocal peformance in it. And his compositions and sound are pleasant, on the other hand, has tracks that leaves his basic sound and unbalances the acoustic concept of his album. There's an evolution ahead of you.
  34. Fernandas
    Aug 28, 2020
    10
    Even when it's his first album, there's no bad songs and that it's so incredible. Every person has to give to this album an opportunity

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. AllMusic
    Apr 20, 2015
    50
    Cute he may be, but he has charisma that lasts no longer than a GIF, as Handwritten makes painfully clear.
    Read full review
  2. The Guardian
    Apr 14, 2015
    60
    At 16, Mendes isn’t the artist he’ll be at 25, but he’s made a persuasive start--the adult-pop big league could yet be his.
    Read full review
  3. New York Daily News (Jim Faber)
    Apr 14, 2015
    60
    The studio sound erased many of those aural pimples, acting like dermabrasion for the ears. The appeal of the songs also helps smooth things over. Adults may notice that this “singer-songwriter” rarely writes without armies of collaborators. But the material he’s been handed has hooks.
    Read full review
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