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Shawn Mendes translated his Vine superstardom into genuine pop stardom in 2015 thanks to "Stitches," a lively piece of pop with a slightly soulful undercurrent. Wisely, Mendes and his team decide to play off these soulful inclinations on Illuminate, the album released almost 18 months after his 2015 debut Handwritten. This isn't to say that Mendes is a crooner, nor is he riding anything resembling a funky groove. Instead, Illuminate uses light R&B rhythms as a way to give a bit of grace and warmth, the airiness of "Ruin" and "Three Empty Words" spinning heartbreak into seduction. As it turns out, this wide-eyed puppy dog routine is the key to Mendes' appeal. He's not forceful, and whenever he slides into a loverman routine, there's never a sense that he's a player: his voice is so small and sweet, it feels as if he's whispering sweet nothings to his high school sweetheart. On Handwritten, such quivering sensitivity seemed tentative, but on Illuminate, it has gelled into his pop persona; he's charming because he embraces his ordinariness. Sometimes on Illuminate the songs are a bit too diffuse to benefit from these qualities -- whenever they lack a hook or pronounced melody, the tracks tend to drift -- but a lot of the record provides a good showcase for his tenderness. And these aren't necessarily ballads, either. Certainly, he feels at home on a nice slow-burning torch number like "Don't Be a Fool" -- an old-fashioned slice of swaying '60s soul -- but on the insistent pop of "Treat You Better" and sunny seaside vibes of "Honest," this boyishness is equally appealing, and those sly shifts in tone are why Mendes comes into his own on Illuminate.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Teddy Geiger, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Maury, Producer, Mixer, Additional Producer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Harris, ComposerLyricist - Blake Mares, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Mendes, Vocals, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Geoffrey Warburton, ComposerLyricist - Geoff Warburton, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ido Zmishlany, ComposerLyricist - Chris Leonard, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Harris, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Seara, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Zubin Thakkar, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Mendes, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, Engineer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Geoffrey Warburton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cody Robertson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Dwyer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Producer, Drums, Electric Guitar, Piano, Programmer, Unknown, Background Vocalist, Other, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ilsey Juber, ComposerLyricist - TONY MASERATI, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Leonard, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Producer, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Harris, Unknown, Other - Danny Parker, ComposerLyricist - Anouck Boungnang, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyler Scott, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Mendes, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, Engineer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Geoffrey Warburton, Unknown, Other - Mike Dwyer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Gertler, Unknown, Other - Ziggy Chareton, Unknown, Other
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Scott Harris, ComposerLyricist - George Seara, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Romer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Mendes, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Cody Robertson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - DJ "Daylight" Kyriakides, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ido Zmishlany, ComposerLyricist - Chris Leonard, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Producer, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Harris, ComposerLyricist - George Seara, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Mendes, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, Engineer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Geoffrey Warburton, ComposerLyricist - Cody Robertson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Dwyer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Leonard, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Producer, Organ, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Harris, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Seara, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Gosling, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Shawn Mendes, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, Engineer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Geoffrey Warburton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cody Robertson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Dwyer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Laleh Pourkarim, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - George Seara, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Gustaf Thörn, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano, Asst. Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Mendes, Guitar, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gus Thornton, ComposerLyricist - Cody Robertson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Producer, Drums, Keyboards, Percussion, Programmer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Leonard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Harris, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Delbert Bowers, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Tuccillo, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Mendes, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Programmer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, Engineer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Geoffrey Warburton, ComposerLyricist - Mike Dwyer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Warburton, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Leonard, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Producer, Mixer, Percussion, Vocals, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Harris, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Mendes, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, Mixer, Programmer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Geoffrey Warburton, ComposerLyricist - Mike Dwyer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Gertler, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Ziggy Chareton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Warburton, Electric Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Programmer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Leonard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Producer, Mixer, Programmer, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Harris, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Mendes, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Tambourine, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, Mixer, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Dwyer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Warburton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Drum, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Leonard, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Producer, Mixer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Harris, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Mendes, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, Mixer, Programmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Dwyer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Warburton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Leonard, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dana Lyn, Viola, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Olivier Manchon, Viola, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Harris, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gosling, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Rob Murphy, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Baron, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Anouck Boungnang, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Coltman, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - matthew gooderham, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Shawn Mendes, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, Mixer, Programmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoffrey Warburton, ComposerLyricist - Mike Dwyer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ling Kwan, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Antonell, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Teddy Geiger, Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Leonard, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Gosling, Producer, Mixer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rachel Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Harris, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Mendes, Percussion, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jackson Dimiglio-Wood, Mixer, Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Geoffrey Warburton, ComposerLyricist - Mike Dwyer, Asst. Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ziggy Chareton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Warburton, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2016 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Shawn Mendes translated his Vine superstardom into genuine pop stardom in 2015 thanks to "Stitches," a lively piece of pop with a slightly soulful undercurrent. Wisely, Mendes and his team decide to play off these soulful inclinations on Illuminate, the album released almost 18 months after his 2015 debut Handwritten. This isn't to say that Mendes is a crooner, nor is he riding anything resembling a funky groove. Instead, Illuminate uses light R&B rhythms as a way to give a bit of grace and warmth, the airiness of "Ruin" and "Three Empty Words" spinning heartbreak into seduction. As it turns out, this wide-eyed puppy dog routine is the key to Mendes' appeal. He's not forceful, and whenever he slides into a loverman routine, there's never a sense that he's a player: his voice is so small and sweet, it feels as if he's whispering sweet nothings to his high school sweetheart. On Handwritten, such quivering sensitivity seemed tentative, but on Illuminate, it has gelled into his pop persona; he's charming because he embraces his ordinariness. Sometimes on Illuminate the songs are a bit too diffuse to benefit from these qualities -- whenever they lack a hook or pronounced melody, the tracks tend to drift -- but a lot of the record provides a good showcase for his tenderness. And these aren't necessarily ballads, either. Certainly, he feels at home on a nice slow-burning torch number like "Don't Be a Fool" -- an old-fashioned slice of swaying '60s soul -- but on the insistent pop of "Treat You Better" and sunny seaside vibes of "Honest," this boyishness is equally appealing, and those sly shifts in tone are why Mendes comes into his own on Illuminate.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:24
- Main artists: Shawn Mendes
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Island Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2016 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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