Oh, What a Life (album)
{{Infobox album
| name = Oh, What a Life
| type = studio
| artist = American Authors
| cover = American Authors - Oh, What a Life.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2014|03|03}}
| recorded = 2011–13
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| length = {{Duration|m=37|s=03}}
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| producer = {{flatlist|
- Shep Goodman
- Aaron Accetta
}}
| prev_title = American Authors
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = What We Live For
| next_year = 2016
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Oh, What a Life
| type = studio
| single1 = Believer
| single1date = March 19, 2013{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c39hBxjho4|title=American Authors - Believer|last=American Authors|date=21 November 2012|publisher=|via=YouTube}}
| single2 = Best Day of My Life
| single2date = March 19, 2013
| single3 = Luck
| single3date = March 3, 2014
}}
}}
Oh, What a Life is the debut studio album by American indie rock band American Authors. The album was released by Island Def Jam label Mercury Records on March 3, 2014. The album serves as a replacement to the band's eponymous 2013 extended play, American Authors.
Background
American Authors first formed in 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts as The Blue Pages. The members of the band first met at the Berklee College of Music.[http://www.marleysmusicality.com/2013/01/12/interview-with-american-authors/ American Authors Interview January 12, 2013] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208175547/http://www.marleysmusicality.com/2013/01/12/interview-with-american-authors/ |date=February 8, 2013 }} The Blue Pages, after relocating to New York City, New York, recorded and independently released two extended plays, Anthropology in February 2011,{{cite web|title=Anthropology by The Blue Pages|url=http://thebluepagesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/anthropology|publisher=Bandcamp|accessdate=26 January 2014}} and Rich With Love in January 2012,{{cite web|title=Rich With Love by The Blue Pages|url=http://thebluepagesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/rich-with-love|publisher=Bandcamp|accessdate=26 January 2014}} as name-your-price albums on online music store Bandcamp.
In 2012, The Blue Pages changed their name to American Authors. Their debut single, "Believer," garnered attention through alternative rock radio.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-chattman/a-sides-with-jon-chattman_b_2331026.html|title=A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Tres! American Authors, Hunter Valentine, and Clementine & The Galaxy|work=The Huffington Post|date=19 December 2012 }} In January 2013, the band were signed to Mercury Records.[http://dailyunsigned.com/2013/01/31/american-authors-sign-to-mercury-records/ AMERICAN AUTHORS SIGN TO MERCURY RECORDS January 31, 2013] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606090434/http://dailyunsigned.com/2013/01/31/american-authors-sign-to-mercury-records/ |date=June 6, 2013 }}
Reception
=Critical=
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Monger|first=James Christopher|title=American Authors Oh, What a Life|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/oh-what-a-life-mw0002616458|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=28 May 2014}}
}}
Soundtrack appearances
- "Best Day of My Life" was featured in a Lowe's television advertisement in the United States, a Hyundai television advertisement in the United Kingdom, a Telecom New Zealand advertisement,{{YouTube|Fyw-q1_lh8A| 2013 Telecom NZ Advertisement}} a trailer for the film Delivery Man, an MLB Fan Cave commercial and is the title music of Sky Sports News' My Special Day feature. It is also featured in the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Konami video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 and the opening sequence for ESPN's 2013 World Series of Poker coverage.
- "Hit It" is featured on EA Sports game, FIFA 14.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/fifa-14-soundtrack-announced-featuring-2264709|title=Fifa 14 soundtrack announced: Featuring Miles Kane, Bloc Party and Vampire Weekend|author=Richard Beech|date=10 September 2013|work=mirror}}
- "Home" was featured in a movie trailer for the movie This Is Where I Leave You and in a video honoring troops and their families.{{cite web|title=Honoring our troops|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZYWYRZwxUs|website=Youtube.com|accessdate=November 28, 2014}}
- "Oh, What a Life" was featured in the opening montage of the 2014 ESPY Awards.
Track listing
All songs written by Zac Barnett, James Shelley, Dave Rublin, Matthew Sanchez, Shep Goodman, and Aaron Accetta, except where noted. All tracks produced by Goodman and Accetta.
{{track listing
| headline = Standard edition{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/oh-what-a-life/1440851059|title=iTunes – Music – Oh, What a Life by American Authors|publisher=iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc.|date=February 4, 2014|access-date=February 5, 2014}}
| total_length = 37:03
| title1 = Believer
| writer1 =
| length1 = 3:03
| title2 = Think About It
| writer2 =
| length2 = 3:04
| title3 = Best Day of My Life
| writer3 =
| length3 = 3:14
| title4 = Luck
| writer4 =
| length4 = 3:40
| title5 = Trouble
| writer5 =
| length5 = 3:15
| title6 = Hit It
| writer6 =
| length6 = 3:27
| title7 = Home
| writer7 =
| length7 = 4:09
| title8 = Love
| writer8 =
| length8 = 3:18
| title9 = Heart of Stone
| writer9 =
| length9 = 3:07
| title10 = Ghost
| writer10 =
| length10 = 2:55
| title11 = Oh, What a Life
| writer11 = {{flatlist|
- Barnett
- Shelley
- Rublin
- Sanchez
}}
| length11 = 3:41
}}
{{tracklist
| headline = iTunes Store deluxe edition
| total_length = 40:18
| title12 = Best Day of My Life
| note12 = acoustic
| writer12 =
| length12 = 3:15
}}
Personnel
American Authors
- Zac Barnett – lead and background vocals, guitar, additional production
- James Adam Shelley – guitar, banjo, mandolin, background vocals, additional production
- Dave Rublin – bass guitar, background vocals, additional production
- Matt Sanchez – drums, percussion, background vocals, additional production
Additional personnel
{{div col}}
- Aaron Accetta – production, background vocals (all tracks); mixing (1, 3), engineering (1–7, 11)
- Shep Goodman – production, background vocals (all tracks); mixing (1, 3), engineering (1–7, 11)
- Mark Needham – mixing (2, 4–11)
- Chris Gehringer – mastering
- Joe Costable – engineering (8–10), engineering assistance (2, 4–7, 11)
- JC Santalis – engineering assistance (2, 5, 8–11)
- Jay Fallon – engineering assistance (2, 5, 8–11)
- Will Brierre – mixing assistance (2, 4–11)
- Steven Defino – art direction, design, cover photo
- Meredith Truax – cover photo, photography
- Sharon Lamb – photography, art coordination
- Andrew Zaeh – photography
- Andy Proctor – package production
- Peter Blume – horn arrangement (11)
- Erica Swindell – string arrangement (11)
{{div col end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2014)
! Peak |
|---|
| scope="row" {{album chart|Australia|35|artist=American Authors|album=Oh, What A Life|accessdate=June 7, 2014}} |
| scope="row" {{album chart|Austria|58|artist=American Authors|album=Oh, What A Life|accessdate=June 7, 2014}} |
| scope="row" {{album chart|BillboardCanada|12|artist=American Authors|accessdate=June 7, 2014}} |
| scope="row" {{album chart|Germany3|68|artist=American Authors|album=Oh, What A Life|accessdate=June 7, 2014}} |
| scope="row" {{album chart|Scotland|22|date=2014-03-29|accessdate=June 7, 2014}} |
| scope="row" {{album chart|UK|26|artist=American Authors|accessdate=June 7, 2014}} |
| scope="row" {{album chart|Billboard200|15|artist=American Authors|accessdate=June 7, 2014}} |
| scope="row" {{album chart|BillboardRock|3|artist=American Authors|accessdate=June 7, 2014}} |
| scope="row" {{album chart|BillboardAlternative|3|artist=American Authors|accessdate=June 7, 2014}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2014)
!scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Alternative Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url= http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/year-end/2014/alternative-albums|title=Alternative Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=16 January 2015}} {{subscription required}}
| style="text-align:center;"|49 |
| scope="row"| US Top Rock Albums{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/top-rock-albums |title=Top Rock Albums: Year End 2014 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |accessdate=December 11, 2014}}
| style="text-align:center;"|63 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=Oh, What a Life|artist=American Authors|award=Gold|relyear=2014|certyear=2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|title=Oh, What a Life|artist=American Authors|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2014|certyear=2020|accessdate=October 7, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=Oh, What a Life|artist=American Authors|award=Gold|relyear=2014|certyear=2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{American Authors}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Mercury Records albums
Category:American Authors albums
Category:Island Records albums