Shawn Mendes has finally released his long-awaited fifth album to the delight of fans. The self-titled LP has hit streaming services almost a month after its original scheduled release date, resulting in much anticipation leading up to November 15. Shawn consists of 12 tracks, two of which came out as promotional singles – and throughout the album, Mendes once again highlights how adept he is at storytelling. He writes on all the tracks excluding the last one – though it’s definitely also a team effort.
The album opens with ‘Who I Am.’ From the beginning of this project, Mendes tries to strike a chord of vulnerability. The song unpicks topics like the impact that fame has on the psyche and the pressures that come with it. Against a slow, almost acoustic-sounding background, it’s a sombre opening to the album, including lyrics like ‘losing myself to make you proud / but I know I gotta do it, gotta put me first.’ It’s not a massive stretch to assume this song might have been written back in 2022 when Mendes famously cancelled his tour – however, it could also be an allusion to the recent scrutiny he’s faced surrounding the implications of his recent romantic relationships. By starting Shawn with this vulnerable note, there is a definite sense of tone-setting as listeners move forward.
‘Why Why Why’ continues this trend. A folk-pop track with hints of country scattered throughout, it’s another which addresses the topic of mental health – albeit slightly more lightly from a sonic perspective. The instrumentals are fresh and upbeat, even as the chorus talks about anxiety. It’s one of those rare tracks where it comes across as danceable yet sober. The juxtaposition may come from that anxiety, funnily enough. In a recent interview with Zane Lowe, Mendes said of the recording process that it was almost like a ‘healing crisis’ with an inevitable ‘breakthrough’ to follow.
‘That’s The Dream’ is the first semi-romantic track on the album. Many of Mendes’ best hits have traversed that theme, and ‘TTD’ is no exception. The song celebrates a long relationship while cleverly alluding to the doubts that can sometimes appear. With a soft chorus, he lowers his expectations to allow for both reality and compromise. It all crescendos into an uncertain ending, but there’s still a hint of hopefulness – has Mendes given up on the dream, or is he just at a crossroads? It’s hard to know.
It’s followed by ‘Nobody Knows.’ One of the album’s shorter tracks, Mendes where love goes in what seems to be circumstances resembling a soul tie. ‘Nobody Knows’ was one of the first singles from the album to be released, coming out earlier in the year. It’s short narrative is filled with shiny, emotive lyricism, but instrumentally it doesn’t provide much originality when compared to the rest of the album.
‘Heart of Gold’ provides one of the most raw, personal moments yet. Mendes opens up about the passing of a childhood friend in 2018, just as he was starting his career. The song is a mixed bag emotionally – showcasing regret about what happened, celebrating the beauty of the friend but also acknowledging how busy Shawn was during this time and his inability to process grief promptly. With the lyrics ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t there / to hug your mama at the funeral’ and ‘I didn’t know what you were going through’ it’s clear that this was a complicated experience to navigate through for Mendes. But there’s no doubt that by putting out this emotional tribute, he’s done justice to the memories he had of his friend.
Mendes tackles escapism on track 7, titled ‘Heavy.’ There’s a clarity in the opening verse, during which Mendes acknowledges the strength that an important person – potentially a partner or otherwise – has been providing him with to help him through his struggles. He acknowledges that while they’ve been supportive, he’s only now ready to accept it because it’s become tiring to experience them alone. Once again, Mendes makes it easy for his audience to relate emotionally to his work as he bravely tackles the universal experience of feeling alone during difficult times.
‘That’ll Be The Day’ and ‘In Between’ are undoubtedly good choices for placing back to back. They traverse similar themes and both feature similar instruments, but ‘In Between’ has the added harmonization of a keyboard, which elevates it slightly.
Fans love a chance to see Shawn – and ‘The Mountain’ is one of the few tracks from this album that has an accompanying music video. It comes across simple (in a positive way) and authentic as he addresses the concept of refinding himself while in the public eye. After the ideas expressed in the earlier half of the album, the second is refreshing – Shawn clearly emphasises in the last verse that he is more at peace with himself these days. He also uses the song to address the sometimes pervasive rumours about his identity, saying ‘people can say I like girls or boys / whatever fits your mold.’ With this line, he indicates he is now more unbothered by how the news and those outside of his circle define him.
The last original track on the album, ‘Rollin’ Right Along’ is upbeat and jaunty. Backed by a symphony of cello, viola and mandolin among others, Shawn seems to express optimism about the concept of moving on. Shawn’s always been one to stick to classic themes within his songs, and this album has not been an exception – the relatability he provides is undoubtedly part of why his audience keeps coming back for more.
The album ends on a strange note – a cover of the famous ‘Hallelujah.’ Yet, the reason behind this inclusion eludes this reviewer. It showcases Mendes’ vocal abilities, but those who expected the album to close on a personal note may be left wanting more.
While Shawn has stuck to many of his previous themes on the new album, it’s clear that this is what fans expect and love from the star. By relying on universal themes, Shawn has once again proven his reliability and sensitivity are the traits which continue to define his success.
