Shawn Mendes
by Shawn Mendes
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: May 25, 2018
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 418 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 332 out of 418
  2. Mixed: 38 out of 418
  3. Negative: 48 out of 418
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  1. Roddypii
    Jun 16, 2018
    8
    Less teen problems and more music. Shawn Mendes shows mature more than ever with this album. Besides the dramatic yet powerful lead single "In My Blood", he really looks to enjoy his own music in tracks like "Nervous", "Where You Were In The Morning?" and "Lost In Japan". But it's undeniable his talent to write and share emotions. The best moments of the album are it's deepest songs. "Why"Less teen problems and more music. Shawn Mendes shows mature more than ever with this album. Besides the dramatic yet powerful lead single "In My Blood", he really looks to enjoy his own music in tracks like "Nervous", "Where You Were In The Morning?" and "Lost In Japan". But it's undeniable his talent to write and share emotions. The best moments of the album are it's deepest songs. "Why" and "Perfectly Wrong" shines giving Shawn what he does best: drama. Both are incredible tracks that fits perfectly in every other Shawn Mendes album with the plus that he sounds mature and his writing skills are at it's sharpest. Other highlight is the second single "Youth" with Khalid when he focus on talking about hope with such a delicate way. In general, Shawn Mendes, the album, isn't perfect, but it's Shawn's best album yet and the way he is going we can have one thing sure: Shawn Mendes can only get better from now on.… Expand
  2. iamkakaindecent
    May 30, 2018
    9
    I really loved your new album, I moved too much incredible.
    I loved all the songs, they all have a lot of feeling.
  3. wantitall
    May 27, 2018
    10
    excellent album, truly his best one yet. best songs are because i had you, mutual, and perfectly wrong.
  4. mscshawn11
    May 30, 2018
    10
    Es perfecto, sus falsettos y sus letras son las mejores, se nota la madurez, es perfecto.
  5. olivesaregreat
    Jun 27, 2019
    10
    Loved this album, thought it was by far his best. Favorite songs are where were you in the morning and why.
  6. aliha
    Jun 18, 2018
    10
    The album explores many different genres that make it very interesting. For a 19 year old, he did a really good job.
  7. Jevus
    May 27, 2018
    7
    First of all, I've always had a problem with Shawn Mendes, I do not like his voice, especially live, it seems as if they were torturing a sheep. In if the album has nothing new, is another pop album more, the best parts are the "fun" moments like "Lost in Japan" or "Queen".
  8. manu_carnevale
    Nov 28, 2020
    10
    This is his best work so far. The vibe of every single song is really chill and every song is enjoyable. Amazing vocals, amazing instrumentals, really nice and straight-forward lyrics, I've got nothing bad to say about this album...
  9. filipehondrey12
    May 26, 2018
    9
    Shawn changed a lot since Illuminate, and in this album that changes come through very clear. Love it and I hope he keep on changing.
  10. nandoxfl
    Jun 16, 2018
    10
    ART. Shawn really DID that. Shawn offers a more mature album where he explores other themes besides love and breakup. It'a magnificent record.
  11. JhosepKingsley
    Jun 20, 2018
    8
    It is not an extraordinary album but it is not bad either. There is not much to say but a great deal with the lyrics.
  12. NolanLundgaard
    Apr 11, 2020
    7
    Shawn Mendes by Shawn Mendes: 6.35

    Señorita: 0.75 Lost In Japan: 1 :) If I Can’t Have You: 1 :) In My Blood: 0.75 Fallin’ All In You: 0.75 Where Were You In The Morning?: 0.5 Nervous: 1 Like To Be You: 0.75 Particular Taste: 1 Because I Had You: 0.5 Why: 0.5 Youth: 0.75 Perfectly Wrong: 0.5 Mutual: 1 Queen: 1 :) When You’re Ready: 1 12.75/16 ~ .797 -> 6.35 Shawn    Shawn Mendes by Shawn Mendes: 6.35

    Señorita: 0.75
    Lost In Japan: 1 :)
    If I Can’t Have You: 1 :)
    In My Blood: 0.75
    Fallin’ All In You: 0.75
    Where Were You In The Morning?: 0.5
    Nervous: 1
    Like To Be You: 0.75
    Particular Taste: 1
    Because I Had You: 0.5
    Why: 0.5
    Youth: 0.75
    Perfectly Wrong: 0.5
    Mutual: 1
    Queen: 1 :)
    When You’re Ready: 1

    12.75/16 ~ .797 -> 6.35

    Shawn Mendes’ latest album, titled his name, is unfortunately inferior to his previous two albums, Handwritten and Illuminate. Most of the songs here are slower, which is totally fine, but this style makes up most of this album, and it got a bit tiring when it was slow song after slow song. Shawn Mendes’ third began pretty well though, but as the album went on it deteriorated to “just okay”. Señorita was a really jamming song, with a fantastic bassline, though all the autotune used was super distracting, as the song didn’t need it. I loved the lyrics in Lost In Japan, and the bassline and the rest of the music was great. If I Can’t Have You was another hit, giving There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back vibes. I enjoyed the amazing guitar riffs in this song, and the surprise piano bit was amazing. I thought In My Blood was a little repetitive, but besides that I really enjoyed it. Fallin’ All In You had a slower beat, but I still thought it was a good song since the lyrics were good. Where Were You In The Morning had potential to be this emotional rollercoaster ride of a song, but instead it left me a little disappointed, as the lyrics were not as powerful as I had hoped them to be. Nervous had awesome lyrics, and I loved the upbeatness of it, but somehow I couldn’t get down with the snare drum effect in the verses, though I really liked the rest of it. Like To Be You was another slower song, though I loved the lyrics. It was at this point that I started to notice the heavy concentration of the same type of acoustic slow song. Particular Taste was more upbeat, and it was similar to Nervous in that it was almost perfect, except for one thing that was distracting: for Taste, the vocal pattern was super generic; it was the hip hop staccato flow of vocals, which was okay but I wish was different. Besides that, I really enjoyed that song. The music was pretty good in Because I Had You, but the lyrics were just okay and I wasn’t super sure about its message. I felt the same about Why: okay music, average lyrics. Youth was a much better song. It had improved both its music and its message, but it was noticeably autotuned. I wasn’t a huge fan of the lyrics in Perfectly Wrong, and it was a bit repetitive, with slower music. Here, the album “Shawn Mendes” started getting a lot better. Mutual had much improved music, and I really enjoyed its diversity from the rest of the album. Queen was fantastic, combining story-like lyrics with fun upbeat music. When You’re Ready had really good lyrics, and its music was pretty nice as well. In general, I was hoping this album would be more upbeat and have more songs like If I Can’t Have You and Queen, and I thought it was unfortunate how a good portion of the songs sounded similar to each other. That being said, there are a few really good songs on this album. Listening to Señorita made me want to listen to Camila Cabello, as this is not the first time that she and Shawn Mendes collaborated on a song. Also, this is that last Mendes album until he releases another one, so it will be nice having more music (Camila’s) to look forward to listening to. As for this album, I think fans of Shawn Mendes will enjoy it, though I think his previous two works are better. Highlights: Lost In Japan, If I Can’t Have You, Nervous, Particular Taste, Mutual, Queen, and When You’re Ready.    … Expand
  13. gabrielcipriano
    Dec 21, 2018
    8
    An incredible album, for a boy just 19 years old. Shawn is getting better, in details of compositions he does incredible good and bet partnerships and leaves some of his place of safety.
  14. arxnte
    May 25, 2018
    8
    Great album, with excellent lyrics and great songs. Very personal, but more of the same.
    The only weakness is musicality. No matter how much Shawn finds himself as a musician, the songs are more of the same, giving the impression that they are all the same - in the instrumental issue. What's more, incredible album and truly memorable songs.
  15. istraulmendes
    May 25, 2018
    10
    PERFEITO!!! Composições, vocais, conceito, é esse o melhor trabalho do Mr. Mendes
  16. AntonieMorello
    May 27, 2018
    10
    The 19 years old Shawn Mendes . Came back with his 3rd Album selftitled , with new rhytms and more mature lyrics, The Canadian shows to the world how to grow up in music industry
  17. alexc4761
    Jul 6, 2018
    10
    An extremely diverse album with a great variety of upbeat and sad songs. Mendes shows his true vocal talent in this album, and his inner emotions are felt with songs like "Why" and "When You're Ready". "Like To Be You" with Julia Michaels might be one of the best duets of the year, and hits hard. Almost every song is memorable, and is Mendes's best work to this date.
  18. juliowgr
    Aug 23, 2018
    9
    O melhor album do cantor, eu tenho certeza. Ele traz sentimentos de forma tao poetica em suas musicas com vocais tão lindos, que me fizeram chorar em um certo ponto do álbum. Nao tem como voce ouvir apenas uma vez, um hinario que voce pode ouvir pra toda sua vida sem se cansar.
  19. itsvanesaa
    Jan 9, 2019
    10
    Beautiful melodies. Composed very well. The lyrics moved me. He has the power to make his voice a type of emotion, which can move you to the point of tears, especially Perfectly Wrong. Cried 5 times. Clearly his best vocal performance. Good job!
  20. LoverRED
    Jul 25, 2020
    10
    Loving how open he was in this album and that it's sonically cohesive. Lyrically improved from his 1st album.
  21. kcc
    Dec 11, 2019
    10
    it’s different from everything that shawn has ever did ! n the lyrics are literally everything. the way that hi decides to use a sad lyric to make it into something playful, fun n original is magical.
  22. alisonmoon
    Mar 4, 2020
    8
    A diverse, yet cohesive collection of songs showcase Mendes' growth as an artist, as well as a man. Very enjoyable. Highlights are Fallin' All in You, Youth, Why, and When You're Ready.
  23. ksooedu
    Dec 6, 2019
    10
    espereo muito pelo álbum e me surpreendi pois está perfeito! Merecia muito indicação a AOTY, mas só de ter sido indicado a SOTY no grammy ja valeu a pena. O Shawn se esforça demais em tudo que faz e esse álbum é o resultado disso.
  24. Ana_beatriz
    Dec 6, 2019
    10
    Maravilhoso! Da para notar o amadurecimento na voz e nas letras. O Shawn é incrível, nunca erra. O álbum é perfeito
  25. alpascon
    Nov 23, 2020
    10
    this is a **** masterpiece! every song connects to each other, and of course, the muse of this album is CAMILA **** CABELLO!
  26. Isabenkendorf
    Dec 7, 2019
    10
    É perfeito, lindo, maravilho, incrível, as letras são lindas, ele saiu do que ele costumava fazer e tentou evoluir, o álbum tem uma participação, mas ele escreveu todas as letras
  27. es_torreblanca
    Feb 18, 2020
    10
    This album is amazing ! I love it so much, so many different sound and the lyrics are so good too
  28. najup
    Jan 7, 2020
    10
    his best album so far, you can’t deny his growth specially lyrically, there’s so many genres in this album, from pop/rock in in my blood to r&b in where were you in the morning?.
  29. aguuuusmorales
    Jan 10, 2020
    10
    muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuy buen album
  30. cipriano
    Feb 7, 2020
    9
    It's an excellent album. Shawn Mendes has taken a big step in evolution of his career, has mature lyrics and productions of great details that is not intended to be commercial but personal. It's not enough to be 100% cohesive, but its sound is the best of a male artist. The strong of all this is its acoustic part, and compositions.
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2018
61
#61 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. AllMusic
    Jun 25, 2018
    80
    There's a palpable sweetness to music that endures, even when a production is as bright and glistening as it is on Shawn Mendes. That bodes well for the future that Shawn Mendes is so evidently planning for.
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  2. Pitchfork
    May 31, 2018
    51
    This looming sense of familiarity extends past the album’s musical elements and into its writing. Shawn Mendes is populated with stock characters: the girl who’s a little too high on her own supply, the girl worth waiting forever for, the girl who got away.
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  3. Variety
    May 31, 2018
    90
    Shawn Mendes is a remarkably well-crafted pop album that finds the singer trying on different styles, prominently showcasing his collaborators and making some flagrant references--yet his persona has become strong enough that he’s never overpowered by any of it.
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