High Expectations
by Mabel
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Aug 2, 2019
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 42
  3. Negative: 4 out of 42
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  1. Akura-ou
    Feb 1, 2023
    8
    The album is really good, but something is missing in it, but unfortunately it's hard to say what. The success of 'Don't Call Me Up' may have slightly raised expectations for the album, so some may be disappointed.
  2. RegularStart
    Jul 15, 2022
    8
    Great album Mabel is one of my favorite pop singers to date and yeah this album is so good so yeah not much to talk on this album but it’s a good pop album so yeah Rating 8/10 like I said I love Mabel one of my favorite singers.
  3. HopelessHelena
    Jul 14, 2022
    3
    Mediocre album with little to no personality. Mabel is clearly a strong vocalists and has many good to great performances here but the songwriting is severely lacking and almost in it's entirety the melodies are fairly repetitive and generic. The lead single is the only highlight here
  4. kendal145
    Aug 3, 2021
    10
    this album is one of the best albums i’ve ever listened to, you can really tell she poured her heart and soul into this album! my personal favourites are selfish love and we don’t say. such an amazing album
  5. myla
    Aug 29, 2020
    10
    Best album of 2019! So much variety and the vocals are incredible, a really good debut album from Mabel
  6. DisconsiderMe
    May 30, 2020
    10
    There's literally no bad songs on this album, even the intro and the outro are great. / Não tem literalmente nenhuma música ruim nesse álbum, até mesmo a intro e a outro são incríveis.
    Top 5 songs/músicas:
    5- FML
    4- Not Sayin'
    3- OK (Anxhiety Anthem)
    2- Don't Call Me Up
    1- Mad Love
  7. Alexis2
    May 8, 2020
    10
    Well, where to start all her album is art, her sounds are very good, the collaborations are good, she is a singer who deserves more recognition, but they are commissioned and committed to her new album.
  8. delvishernandez
    Mar 27, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Just amazing. Every track is different from the previous. But too much of interludes and outros.… Expand
  9. EvanMagal
    Oct 9, 2019
    7
    I believe the only mistake is that there are no tracks that better explore Mabel's vocals
      However, as much as it is not a great pop album, it remains linear from beginning to end.
  10. Marky_C_
    Aug 11, 2019
    10
    The album is effortlessly cool and a huge grower, one you definitely won't be bored of after a week on repeat.

    While initially appearing to be safe and generic, you discover a lot more to it with every listen. Her voice is very easy to listen to and sounds gorgeous in the intro and outro, We Don't Say and the bridge of Put Your Name On It. Mad Love is catchy as hell as is Trouble - the    The album is effortlessly cool and a huge grower, one you definitely won't be bored of after a week on repeat.

    While initially appearing to be safe and generic, you discover a lot more to it with every listen. Her voice is very easy to listen to and sounds gorgeous in the intro and outro, We Don't Say and the bridge of Put Your Name On It. Mad Love is catchy as hell as is Trouble - the two highlights for me although everything on here is at least a solid 9.

    Critics have sadly all underrated this with freakishly similar ratings but don't let the metascore fool you.    … Expand
  11. WriterITDark
    Aug 7, 2019
    7
    Love the mixture between R&B and Pop Mabel has accomplished with this tremendous Debut. The issue is there are a few skip tracks and you know it’s a debut I found better Ivy To Roses singles than High Expectation but Mabel CONGRATS
  12. BGV
    Aug 6, 2019
    10
    One of the best pop albums of 2019 so far! Mabel is surely one of the hottest exports to come out of England in recent years with confident pop and catchy productions!
  13. HerickDiener
    Aug 3, 2019
    6
    Eu definitivamente não vou me esquecer e nem deixar de amar os singles "Don't Call Me Up" e "Mad Love", porém esperava um pouco mais do álbum. É bem repetitivo e quando termina sentimos falta de baladas (Especialmente uma que mostrasse o ótimo alcance vocal que a intérprete tem) e outras músicas incrivelmente pop como os primeiros singles. Mas minha 'expectativa' foi salva por cançõesEu definitivamente não vou me esquecer e nem deixar de amar os singles "Don't Call Me Up" e "Mad Love", porém esperava um pouco mais do álbum. É bem repetitivo e quando termina sentimos falta de baladas (Especialmente uma que mostrasse o ótimo alcance vocal que a intérprete tem) e outras músicas incrivelmente pop como os primeiros singles. Mas minha 'expectativa' foi salva por canções ótimas como "Trouble" e "Selfish Love".… Collapse
  14. Javierknoxx
    Aug 2, 2019
    7
    El album esta bien,pudo haber sorprendido un poco mas despues de singles tan buen como mad love o bad behaviour,tener parte de mas baladas o algo aun mas bailable y que no fuese tan repititivo en algunas partes,pero aun asi se le ve un gran futuro a la cantante

Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Most Discussed Album of 2019
87
#87 Most Shared Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. PopMatters
    Aug 14, 2019
    50
    She sounds set in her ways, reluctant to break free of the trends which made her and so many other acts of today famous.
    Read full review
  2. Clash Music
    Aug 14, 2019
    70
    Sometimes they feel almost too airbrushed, with Mabel playing it a little too safe to qualify being described as wholly original or progressive. There are moments of talent and flair, but it would’ve also been refreshing to hear more personality (and less autotune). Nevertheless, it’s an album that contains some real highlights.
    Read full review
  3. DIY Magazine
    Aug 8, 2019
    60
    There’s no faux-earnestness here. Whether Mabel is singing about messy break ups, mental health or empowering herself to move on, High Expectations is effortlessly cool.
    Read full review
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