High Expectations is the debut studio album by English singer Mabel. It was released on 2 August 2019 by Polydor UK. Originally scheduled for release on 15 July, the album was pushed back to 2 August to alter several songs. Mabel worked with writers and producers such as Tre Jean-Marie, Steve Mac and MNEK to create the album, with its tracks incorporating elements of pop and R&B.
The album was supported by two singles. Its lead single "Don't Call Me Up" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart for three consecutive weeks, making it Mabel's highest charting single in the UK. It also became her international mainstream breakthrough, managing to peak within the top 10 in over twenty countries. The track also became Mabel's first US Billboard Hot 100 chart entry, peaking at 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album's second and final single "Mad Love" became Mabel's third UK top-10 single, peaking at number eight.
Upon its release, High Expectations received positive reviews from music critics, many of whom complimented its production and the singer's vocals. The album was also a commercial success, debuting at number three on the UK Albums Chart and at number five on the Irish Albums Chart.
In October 2017, Mabel released her debut mixtape, Ivy to Roses. Its lead single, "Finders Keepers", peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart and became her first top ten single. The mixtape was then reissued in January 2019, featuring six additional singles including "Don't Call Me Up". High Expectations was then officially announced on 18 April of the same year, with a scheduled release date of July 12. The release date was later pushed back to August 2.[3]
Singles
The album's lead single "Don't Call Me Up" was released on 18 January 2019.[4][5] It was initially included on the 2019 reissue of Ivy to Roses.[4] The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart for three consecutive weeks, making it Mabel's highest charting single in the UK.[6][7] It became her international mainstream breakthrough, managing to peak within the top 10 in over twenty other countries including Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway where it reached the top three.[8][9] The track also became the singer's first US Billboard Hot 100 chart entry where it rose to number 66.[10][11]
"Mad Love" was released as the second and final single from the album on 7 June 2019.[12] It became Mabel's third UK top-10 single, peaking at number eight,[13] and her second top-10 single in Ireland where it reached number six.[9]
The album's only promotional single, "Bad Behaviour", was released on 23 July 2019, alongside a music video directed by Oliver Kane.[14][15] The track debuted at number 94 on the UK Singles Chart.[16] A music video for the track "OK (Anxiety Anthem)" premiered on Dazed on 16 August 2019, directed by Jade Jackman.[17]
High Expectations received positive reviews from music critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 61, based on 10 reviews.[18] Reviewing the album for musicOMH, Ben Devlin hailed it as "a convincing display of versatility and quality songwriting that firmly establishes Mabel as a force to be reckoned with in UK pop",[21] while Chris Taylor of DIY regarded it as "effortlessly cool" with "no faux-earnestness".[20]Q magazine's Laura Barton called the album "highly polished" and said the singer "perfected the art of writing songs that even on first listen sound totally ubiquitous".[25] In NME, Hannah Mylrea wrote that Mabel's "gorgeous silky vocals soar, the glossy production is stellar, but the exuberance and effervescent attitude that make tunes like 'Don't Call Me Up' so brilliant aren't found throughout."[22]
Andrew Wright of The Skinny stated that the singer found her individual identity with High Expectations which he described as well-rounded despite "some over-zealous Top 40 attempts".[1] Conversely, Joe Hale of Clash found it "almost too airbrushed, with Mabel playing it a little too safe to qualify being described as wholly original or progressive", but concluded that it had "some real highlights" and "moments of talent and flair".[19] Despite finding the album strong and well-crafted, The Guardian's Alexis Petridis also believed it lacked personality and only "occasionally hints its maker might be more interesting and individual".[2]Kitty Empire was more critical in The Observer, writing, "High Expectations is just disappointingly all right, lacking any playfulness, or top spin, or a sense of who Mabel is,"[23] while Uncut critic Johnny Sharp commented, "Despite some pleasant enough tunes, she lacks the vocal charisma to stand out from other wannabe Rihannas, Mileys and Dua Lipas."[26] Mick Jacobs of PopMatters concluded, "Though sung in a beautiful, agile voice, the album's contents lack any innovation that truly set them apart, even amongst themselves."[24]
Mabel announced the US and Canada dates of her headlining tour in support of the album on 7 June 2019. General sale of tickets also began on the same date.[34] Dates in the UK and Europe were announced on July 19, 2019 via her social media. The general sale of tickets for European dates began on July 21.[35] The supporting act was R&B singer Kali Claire.[36] The European leg of the tour commenced on January 28, 2020 in Dublin, Ireland.
List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and opening acts
Before the final digital reissue, there was a first reissue with "God Is a Dancer" added as track one[59] (track 21 on certain listings), and later a second reissue with "Boyfriend" as track one (or track 15), with "God Is a Dancer" as track 22.[60]
"Tick Tock" and "West Ten" are placed as tracks one and two on the digital reissue exclusively for Spotify, with all other tracks being two positions lower in the track list.[61]
Personnel
Credits for High Expectations adapted from Allmusic.[62]
High Expectations... Stripped is an acoustic version of the album recorded by Mabel at her home studio during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The album was released on 31 July 2020.
Mabel announced the album on 28 July 2020, saying "This year turned everyone's plans sideways and I’ve been using the time in my home studio to record an acoustic version of every track. Something a bit more intimate from me".[89]
