While(1 Is Less Than 2)
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Correct title|While(1<2)}}
{{Infobox album
| name = While(1<2)
| type = studio
| artist = Deadmau5
| cover = Deadmau5 - while (12).png
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = June 17, 2014
| recorded = 2006–2014
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Progressive house|electro house|ambient|downtempo|experimental}}
| length = 130:53 (mixed)
139:17 (unmixed)
| label =
| producer = Joel Zimmerman
| prev_title = Album Title Goes Here
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = 5 Years of Mau5
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Deadmau5 studio album
| type = studio
| prev_title = Album Title Goes Here
| prev_year = 2012
| title = While(1<2)
| year = 2014
| next_title = W:/2016Album/
| next_year = 2016
}}
{{Singles
| name = While(1<2)
| type = studio
| single1 = Avaritia
| single1date = 20 May 2014
| single2 = Seeya
| single2date = 27 May 2014
| single3 = Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer
| single3date = 3 June 2014
| single4 = Phantoms Can't Hang
| single4date = 10 June 2014
}}
}}
While(1<2) (stylized in all lowercase; pronounced "while one is less than two") is the seventh studio album by Canadian electronic music producer Deadmau5, released on June 17, 2014 by Mau5trap, Virgin EMI and Astralwerks, his only album to be released by the latter.
The album is a notable departure from the bass-heavy, upbeat template of his previous work, instead foraying in a more experimental direction, with tones of downtempo and ambient music. Many of the songs on the album were originally uploaded to Deadmau5's SoundCloud account before they were removed from the site in early 2014.{{cite web|last=Tregoning|first=Jack|title=Deadmau5 deletes his SoundCloud after 33 million plays|url=http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/57236/Deadmau5_deletes_his_SoundCloud_after_33_million_plays|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115172243/http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/57236/Deadmau5_deletes_his_SoundCloud_after_33_million_plays|archive-date=15 January 2014 |work=inthemix|date=January 12, 2014}}
The album received a positive reception from critics, who applauded its experimental nature, although some viewed this as its weak point. It peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200, becoming his second top-ten album.
Background
On January 7, 2014, Deadmau5 announced on Twitter that his seventh album was completed. He also announced that it was a double album containing a continuous mix for each disc and that the album as a whole, minus the mixes, would contain 25 tracks.{{cite news|last=Tregoning|first=Jack|url=http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/57212/In_other_Deadmau5_news_his_twodisc_epiclength_album_is_done|title=In other Deadmau5 news, his two-disc, epic-length album is done|work=inthemix|date=January 7, 2014|access-date=January 14, 2014}} On May 10, 2014, While(1<2) was officially unveiled by Deadmau5 through his subscription service, and also announced the album's digital release date of June 17, 2014 with a physical release on June 24.{{cite web|last1=Meadow|first1=Matthew|title=Update: Deadmau5 Announces Album Title And Release Date|url=http://www.youredm.com/2014/05/10/deadmau5-announces-album-title-release-date|work=Your EDM|access-date=May 10, 2014}}
The title is a piece of code, which would always evaluate to true (as 1 is always less than 2); thus, as "deadmau5" happens "while 1 is less than 2", the album is supposed to be infinitely persisting.
Singles
The first single "Avaritia" became available for purchase on May 20, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K7JTHWG|title=Avaritia|website=Amazon.com|access-date=10 June 2016|via=Amazon}} One week later, the second single "Seeya", featuring singer Colleen D'Agostino from the band The Material, was made available for purchase on iTunes.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/deadmau5/status/471165067464290305|title=Dead Mow Cinco|website=Twitter.com|access-date=10 June 2016}} On 2 June 2014, the third single "Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer" premiered on Mau5trap's SoundCloud page. It was made available for download on iTunes and Beatport the next day.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-deadmau5s-odyssey-infra-turbo-pigcart-racer-premiere-20140602|title=Hear Deadmau5's Odyssey 'Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer' – Premiere|date=2 June 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=10 June 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.beatport.com/release/infra-turbo-pigcart-racer/1307584|title=Deadmau5 New Releases: Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer on Beatport|website=Beatport.com|access-date=10 June 2016}} The album's fourth and final single, "Phantoms Can't Hang", was also premiered through SoundCloud the day before its release on iTunes and Beatport which was on 10 June 2014.{{cite web|url=http://radio.com/2014/06/10/listen-deadmau5-reveals-new-9-minute-epic-phantoms-cant-hang/|title=Listen: Deadmau5 Reveals New 9-Minute Epic, 'Phantoms Can't Hang'|website=Radio.com|access-date=10 June 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.beatport.com/release/phantoms-cant-hang/1307607|title=Deadmau5 New Releases: Phantoms Can't Hang on Beatport|website=Beatport.com|access-date=10 June 2016}}
Critical reception
{{album reviews
| MC = 66/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/while12/deadmau5|title=While(1<2) by Deadmau5|website=Metacritic|access-date=10 June 2016}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |first=David|last=Jeffries|title=Deadmau5: While(1<2) Review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/while12-mw0002678361|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=14 September 2014}}
| rev2 = Billboard
| rev2score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Medved|first=Matt|date=June 17, 2014|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/6121572/deadmau5-while-1-is-less-than-2|title=deadmau5, 'while(1<2)': Track-By-Track Review|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 19, 2015}}
| rev3 = Consequence of Sound
| rev3score = B{{cite web|last=Staples|first=Derek|date=June 23, 2014|url=https://consequence.net/2014/06/album-review-deadmau5-while-12/|title=deadmau5 – while(1<2)|website=Consequence of Sound|access-date=March 19, 2015}}
| rev4 = Los Angeles Times
| rev4score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite web|last=Brown|first=August|date=June 17, 2014|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-tiesto-and-deadmau5-make-full-albums-for-edm-attention-spans-20140616-story.html|title=Tiesto and Deadmau5 make full albums, stretch attention spans|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 19, 2015}}
| rev5 = The National
| rev5score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite web|last=Bouyamourn|first=Adam|date=July 7, 2014|url=http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle/music-reviews/album-review-deadmau5--while-12|title=Album review: Deadmau5 – While (1<2)|work=The National|access-date=March 19, 2015}}
| rev6 = Q
| rev6score = {{rating|3|5}}Q. July 2, 2014. August 2014 edition, p. 114.
| rev7 = Rolling Stone
| rev7score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|last=R. Weingarten|first=Christopher|date=June 17, 2014|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/while-1-20140617|title=Deadmau5 White (1<2) Album Review|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=March 19, 2015}}
| rev8 = Slant Magazine
| rev8score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Blue|date=June 21, 2014|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/deadmau5-while-1-2|title=deadmau5: white (1 < 2)|website=Slant Magazine|access-date=March 19, 2015}}
| rev9 = Spin
| rev9score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Kamps|first=Garrett|date=June 22, 2014|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/deadmau5-while/|title=Deadmau5 Disrupts EDM With the Sprawling, Awesome 'While (1<2)'|work=Spin|access-date=March 19, 2015}}
}}
While(1<2) received favorable reviews from critics. It currently holds a score of 66 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favourable reviews". Billboard gave the album 4.5/5 stars stating "Sprawling, ambitious and mostly well-executed, "While(1<2) may confuse his fan base's Ultra-attending electro house contingent, but Deadmau5's double album undoubtedly marks his most mature and forward-thinking release to date". AllMusic also reviewed positively expressing "While(1<2) is a very good, very restrained, and very inspired Deadmau5 effort. It is a welcome space-walk surprise, recommended for all aspiring EDM astronauts and Ghost in the Shell cast members", with a score of 3.5/5 stars.
Rolling Stone was more critical of the album, stating "Deadmau5 has turned from an electro-house polymath into the world's most unnecessary Nine Inch Nails tribute act", giving it 2 stars out of 5. Slant Magazine was equally critical saying "Deadmau5 enters the fray with the advantage of deeply diminished expectations. His latest, While(1<2), comfortably clears the bar set by his contemporaries, and that would be impressive if the bar wasn't buried underground", also awarding it 2 stars.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc 1 (unmixed)
| total_length = 69:46
| title1 = Avaritia
| length1 = 6:42
| title2 = Coelacanth I
| length2 = 2:46
| title3 = Ice Age
| note3 = deadmau5 Remix) (by How to Destroy Angels
| length3 = 6:51
| title4 = My Pet Coelacanth
| length4 = 8:15
| title5 = Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer
| length5 = 9:36
| title6 = Terrors in My Head
| length6 = 8:37
| title7 = Creep
| length7 = 5:37
| title8 = Somewhere Up Here
| length8 = 5:10
| title9 = Phantoms Can't Hang
| length9 = 9:15
| title10 = Gula
| length10 = 6:56
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc 2 (unmixed)
| total_length = 69:31
| title1 = Acedia
| length1 = 6:25
| title2 = Invidia
| length2 = 3:16
| title3 = Errors in My Bread
| length3 = 5:17
| title4 = Survivalism
| note4 = deadmau5 Remix) (by Nine Inch Nails
| length4 = 3:37
| title5 = Silent Picture
| length5 = 3:38
| title6 = Rlyehs Lament
| length6 = 4:48
| title7 = Superbia
| length7 = 2:14
| title8 = Mercedes
| length8 = 9:38
| title9 = Bleed
| length9 = 4:00
| title10 = Ira
| length10 = 2:38
| title11 = Monday
| length11 = 3:45
| title12 = A Moment to Myself
| length12 = 3:28
| title13 = Pets
| length13 = 7:31
| title14 = Coelacanth II
| length14 = 2:36
| title15 = Seeya
| note15 = featuring Colleen D'Agostino
| length15 = 6:40
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc 2 bonus track
| total_length = 77:02
| title16 = Petting Zoo
| length16 = 7:31
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital bonus tracks (mixed)
| total_length = 2:10:53
| title1 = while(1<2) [disc 1]
| length1 = 1:07:12
| title2 = while(1<2) [disc 2]
| length2 = 1:03:41
}}
Note
- Some physical copies of the album, including the vinyl version, feature the full version of "Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer", which is 10:36. The promotional single for the song also features this full version.
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Weekly chart performance for While(1<2) !scope="col"|Chart (2014) !scope="col"|Peak |
| {{album chart|Australia|9|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1%3C2)|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2014}} |
| scope="row"|Australian Dance Albums (ARIA){{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue1269.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20140710021700/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20140710-1217/Issue1269.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-07-10 |title=ARIA Dance – Week Commencing 23rd June 2014 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |via=Pandora Archive |page=17 |access-date=December 17, 2014}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
|2 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Austria|36|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1%3C2)|rowheader=true|access-date=July 4, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|36|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1%3C2)|rowheader=true|access-date=June 28, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|52|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1%3C2)|rowheader=true|access-date=June 28, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|5|artist=Deadmau5|rowheader=true|access-date=July 4, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Denmark|25|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1%3C2)|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|36|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1%3C2)|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|France|165|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1%3C2)|rowheader=true|access-date=June 28, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|31|id=246950|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1<2)|rowheader=true|access-date=January 3, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland2|25|artist=Deadmau5|rowheader=true|access-date=January 3, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Italy|52|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1%3C2)|rowheader=true|access-date=January 3, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|25|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1%3C2)|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|13|date=20140628|rowheader=true|access-date=June 22, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|25|artist=Deadmau5|album=While (1%3C2)|rowheader=true|access-date=June 28, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|14|date=20140628|rowheader=true|access-date=June 22, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|UKDance|1|date=20140628|rowheader=true|access-date=July 4, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|9|artist=Deadmau5|rowheader=true|access-date=July 4, 2014}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardDanceElectronic|1|artist=Deadmau5|rowheader=true|access-date=July 4, 2014}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for While(1<2) !scope="col"|Chart (2014) !scope="col"|Position |
| scope="row"|US Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/dance-electronic-albums |title=Dance/Electronic Albums: Year End 2014 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 17, 2014}}
|9 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for While(1<2) !scope="col"| Region !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Format !scope="col"| Label |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"| Various
|rowspan="3"| Mau5trap, Astralwerks, Virgin |
|---|
| 24 June 2014
|CD |
| July 2014{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/deadmau5/status/478686297226485760|title=Dead Mow Cinco |website=Twitter.com|access-date=10 June 2016}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Deadmau5}}
{{Authority control}}