What Is Love? (Never Shout Never album)

What Is Love?
Studio album by
Never Shout Never
ReleasedJanuary 26, 2010 (2010-01-26)
StudioAbbey Road Studios, London
Length20:36
Label
ProducerButch Walker
Never Shout Never chronology
Never Shout Never
(2009) 		What Is Love?
(2010) 		Harmony
(2010)
Singles from What Is Love?
  1. "What Is Love?"
    Released: December 15, 2009
  2. "I Love You 5"
    Released: February 4, 2010
  3. "Can't Stand It"
    Released: March 4, 2010

What Is Love? is the first studio album by American rock band Never Shout Never, released on January 26, 2010, via Loveway, Sire and Warner Bros. Records.[1][2]

The album debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 and sold 21,000 copies in its first week of its release.[3][4]

Background and release

On May 29, 2009, Never Shout Never signed to Warner Bros. Records.[5] The album was produced by Butch Walker and was recorded in Los Angeles and at Abbey Road Studios in London.[6][7] On December 3, 2009, Never Shout Never revealed the release date and track list of the album.[1] On December 8, a self-titled EP was released, featuring two songs, "Jane Doe" and "What is Love?" as a preview for the upcoming debut album, as well as a B-side titled "She's Got Style" and a live version of "Big City Dreams".[8]

The first single "What Is Love?" was released on December 15, 2009.[9] The music video was released in 2009 and was directed by Isaac Ravishankara.[10] "I Love You 5" was released on February 4, 2010, as the second single with the music video being released 2 days prior.[11] "Can't Stand It" was released on March 4, 2010, as the third and final single along with its music video that same day directed by Isaac Ravishankara.[12] The video includes visual references of Bob Dylan's, Dont Look Back and The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night.[12] The song peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales chart.[13]

Promotion

In support of the album, the group performed eight live shows in December 2009.[14] Christofer Drew also went on a solo acoustic tour in January 2010.[15] The group headlined the Alternative Press AP Tour in the spring of 2010 with support from Joplin, The Cab, Hey Monday, Every Avenue and The Summer Set.[16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic55/100[17]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Alternative Press[18]
Rolling Stone[19]

On Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album gained an average score of 55, based on 4 reviews, indicating "mixed to average reviews". The album was given a 2 star rating from Andrew Leahey of AllMusic. He complimented Drew's ability to write a pop melody however was critical of his vocals stating, "it's too hampered by pinched, nasal vocals to make much of an impression."[6] Scott Heisel of Alternative Press wrote, "while it is all good in the Never Shout Never camp, it's going to get better, faster than everyone thinks."[18] Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone gave the album a more negative review stating, "Drew took some bad lessons from emo and his dad's folk records. The vocals are often pained and piercing, and his manner can be gratingly precious – especially on 'Can't Stand It'."[19]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Christofer Drew Ingle.

No.TitleLength
1."Love Is Our Weapon"2:28
2."Jane Doe"1:55
3."Can't Stand It"2:50
4."Sacrilegious"1:51
5."I Love You 5"2:14
6."California"2:37
7."What Is Love?"2:34
8."The Past"4:07
Total length:20:36
iTunes bonus tracks[20]
No.TitleLength
9."Fifteen"1:30
10."Damn Dog"2:17
11."Can't Stand It" (music video)2:46

Personnel

Credits for What Is Love? adapted from AllMusic.[21]

Charts

Chart performance for What Is Love?
Chart (2010) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[22] 58
US Billboard 200[3] 24
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[23] 2
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[24] 2

References

  1. ^ a b "Never Shout Never News: What Is Love? album release date and tracklisting!". Never Shout Never Official Website. December 3, 2009. Archived from the original on December 17, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  2. ^ "What is Love? by Never Shout Never". Apple Music. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Never Shout Never Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  4. ^ "Billboard Magazine – February 20, 2010" (PDF). p. 35. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  5. ^ "Never Shout Never Signs To Warner | Crazed Hits – The Music Industry's Leading A&R Site". Crazed Hits. May 25, 2009. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Leahey, Andrew. "What Is Love? – Never Shout Never Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  7. ^ "Never Shout Never debut nearly complete". Alternative Press. September 16, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  8. ^ "Never Shout Never Set Hot Topic Exclusive". Anti Music. October 30, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  9. ^ "What Is Love? – Single by Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  10. ^ "What Is Love? by Never Shout Never". IMVDb. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  11. ^ Chris, Ryan (February 2, 2010). "New Video: Never Shout Never, I Love You 5". MTV. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Ryan, Chris (March 4, 2010). "Video Premiere: Never Shout Never, 'Can't Stand It'". MTV. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  13. ^ "Never Shout Never Chart History – Rock Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  14. ^ "Never Shout Never December tour sold out". Alternative Press. December 16, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  15. ^ "Never Shout Never announce acoustic tour". Alternative Press. November 19, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  16. ^ John Gonzalez (December 18, 2009). "Video: Christofer Drew talks about spirituality, tattoos and success; plus the latest on Never Shout Never's Alternative Press Tour". MLive. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  17. ^ "What Is Love? by Never Shout Never". Metacritic. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Scott Heisel (January 18, 2010). "Never Shout Never – What Is Love?". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  19. ^ a b Christian Hoard (February 16, 2010). "Never Shout Never – What Is Love?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  20. ^ "What Is Love? (Bonus Track Version) by Never Shout Never". Apple Music. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  21. ^ "What Is Love? – Never Shout Never". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  22. ^ "Canadian Albums Chart – 31 January 2010". Jam! Canoe. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  23. ^ "Never Shout Never Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  24. ^ "Never Shout Never Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
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