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. ItsIsaiahz
    Sep 18, 2022
    6
    Ok so going into this album i kind of had an idea of what to expect. I knew of Shawn Mendes’ hits so my expectations were set on a pop album with a lot of acoustics, some synths, maybe a piano ballad or two? If it was anything different from what I mentioned I would be shockingly surprised.

    The album opener, “Life Of The Party”, was really a strong anthem and an exceptional opener for the    Ok so going into this album i kind of had an idea of what to expect. I knew of Shawn Mendes’ hits so my expectations were set on a pop album with a lot of acoustics, some synths, maybe a piano ballad or two? If it was anything different from what I mentioned I would be shockingly surprised.

    The album opener, “Life Of The Party”, was really a strong anthem and an exceptional opener for the record. I’m used to openers being soft balladry, but this definitely still hit the mark for me as it immediately grabbed my attention. It then flowed into his hit song “Stitches” which was a hit song for a reason. the drum kicks, the synths, the ear worm chorus? it’s no wonder he blew up with this single

    Now the next few tracks after were basically cohesively the same, which isn’t a bad thing. It just became way too predictable of where he would take the song. They all were lead with guitar chords with a slow place then (some of them) would open up into this grand choirs type vibe.

    “Something Big” was the track that pulled me back into the record again. The production was hella strong on that one. And the bridge???? 100000/10! The next couple of tracks didn’t quite stand out on its own although they weren’t awful by any means. “This Is What It Takes” and the closing anthem/hit “I Know What You Did Last Summer” were another set of incredible songs that really shined bright on the record.

    Overall this album lived up quite nicely to my expectations of what I expected from Shawn Mendez. He definitely played it safe in the pop world with this debut which means there’s always room for improvement. This makes me really curious and excited to see what his sophomore album will sound like when i listen to it. Will he continue with this kind of generic acoustic sound? Or will he expand his horizons? With that in mind I give “Handwritten (Deluxe)” by Shawn Mendes a 65 score out of 100.    … Expand
  2. Loganwellness
    Jul 19, 2021
    0
    This album sucks. Shawn Mendes is one of the worst singers of all time alongside Justin Bieber. All the tracks were terrible. The lyrics didn't do anything. Shawn's vocals was horrendous.
  3. shay1018
    May 25, 2021
    0
    i didn’t know an album could be so repetitive and boring until i heard this one. don’t tell me it’s because he was only 15. there are 12 year olds that could write better than this
  4. 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
  5. Arayza
    Dec 10, 2020
    10
    Es un gran álbum, llevando consigo canciones con un buen contenido lírico
  6. Ksluba
    Dec 5, 2020
    10
    Eu amo esse álbum, tem uma sonoridade única que me cativa enquanto ouço.
  7. Criticmusic1
    Dec 3, 2020
    0
    -00000000000000000000000000000000000000000ⁿ0000000ⁿ00000000000000000000000000
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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.
  11. 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
  12. Vaibav
    Mar 10, 2019
    0
    Don't listen this album. Justin Beiber is better. This guy is the worst and stitches is the worst song I've ever heard
  13. 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.
  14. ErickAsked
    May 25, 2018
    3
    Eu não gostei, é muito depressivo, e a voz dele é muito chata, espero que ele melhore
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. Jake1455
    Dec 1, 2017
    2
    You can have a "pretty" face and be the imagination of immature girls who do not know what real music is, but your shawn music is very bad, lyrics that have nothing special and sometimes do not make sense, you do not transmit emotions with your music, horrible rhythms in short, an album not recommended
  18. 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.
  19. 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
  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. bandtrash
    Feb 16, 2017
    5
    This is a normal, average album by a young pop singer. Mendes has got a real potential but this is not "it" yet. I think he'll get so much better and he'll actually surprise me but now I am really skeptic. This album was really slow and that is not so much enjoyable. Plus I think Mendes really needs to work on his voice.
  22. 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.
  23. Noeyz
    Sep 23, 2016
    0
    It's very boring album .Stitches is only song that be catchy . The others is meh and Lyric is so childish
    This album and this artist is so overrated .He is only good looking
  24. 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.
  25. 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
  26. Kcir
    Jan 30, 2016
    0
    stop trying to make your career happen, will not happen. omg is awful, as you could release it ? because it is the worst thing I ever heard. ewwwwwww.
  27. Mackro
    Nov 18, 2015
    0
    This is a joke right?...We're not taking this seriously right?...Please tell me he's being paid in monopoly money or something...With all the good Canadian artists/bands out there (just found out this guy's Canadian ugh..) you'd think People like this and Justin Bieber wouldn't stand a chance, but, instead they're front runners in the music industry. This makes me very sad...
  28. 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.
  29. GuilhermeMeirel
    Oct 20, 2015
    10
    amoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
  30. 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.
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Critic Reviews

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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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