Whispers (Passenger album)

On 26 March 2014 Passenger announced details of his fifth studio album, confirming the UK release date as 9 June 2014. When speaking to Digital Spy about the album he said, "This is easily the most 'up' album I've ever made, it's quite cinematic. There are lots of big stories and big ideas. There are also some sombre moments about loneliness and death but hey, it wouldn't be a Passenger album without those." He released "Heart's on Fire" as the lead single from the album on 14 April 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a560247/passenger-announces-new-album-whispers.html|title=Passenger announces new album Whispers - Music News|last1=Corner|first1=Lewis|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines|date=26 March 2014|accessdate=18 April 2014}}

"Heart's on Fire" was released as the lead single from the album on 14 April 2014. Talking to Digital Spy about the song he said, "Heart's on Fire' is a nostalgic song. It's about when the timing with someone isn't right, even though the person might be. And although you're not with that person at the time, there may be a moment in the future where the relationship makes more sense."{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a564423/passenger-unveils-video-for-hearts-on-fire.html|title=Passenger unveils video for 'Heart's on Fire'|last1=Eames|first1=Tom|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines|date=14 April 2014|accessdate=18 April 2014}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 63/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/whispers/passenger|title=Reviews for Whispers by Passenger|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=10 June 2014}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| Rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last1=Collar|first1=Matt|title=Whispers - Passenger|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/whispers-mw0002644741|website=AllMusic|accessdate=10 June 2014}}

| rev2 = Blurt

| Rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last1=Zimmerman|first1=Lee|title=PASSENGER – Whispers|url=http://blurtonline.com/review/passenger-whispers/|website=Blurt|accessdate=10 June 2014}}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| Rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last1=Sullivan|first1=Caroline|title=Passenger: Whispers review – sparse, folk-pop storytelling|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/05/passenger-whispers-review|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 June 2014|accessdate=10 June 2014}}

| rev4 = The New York Times

| rev4Score = (mixed){{cite web|last1=Caramanica|first1=Jon|author-link=Jon Caramanica|title=Jack White's 'Lazaretto,' About Controlling and Letting Go|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/10/arts/music/jack-whites-lazaretto-about-controlling-and-letting-go.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=10 June 2014|accessdate=10 June 2014}}

| rev5 = Rolling Stone

| Rev5Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last1=Dolan|first1=Jon|title=Passenger: Whispers (Nettwerk)|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/whispers-20140610|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|date=10 June 2014|accessdate=10 June 2014}}

}}

Whispers was met with a moderately positive reception from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 63, based on 7 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian gave praise to Rosenberg's "snaggle-toothed rasp" delivery throughout the record and the storytelling elements that invoke "characterful observations ("Bullets")" and "striking vignettes ("Riding to New York")". AllMusic editor Matt Collar gave the "Album Pick" title to the album, praising the instrumentals and lyrics concluding with, "Ultimately, with Whispers, Rosenberg has crafted an album of sweet, hummable anthems for tender-hearted troubadours everywhere." The New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica gave a mixed review of the album, saying that his voice "can be striking, even if its arsenal is limited," but found most of his lyrics were like a "teenager’s scribbled poems."

The album debuted at No. 12 on Billboard 200,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2014-06-28 |title=Billboard 200 |date= June 28, 2014 |magazine=Billboard}} No. 5 on Top Rock Albums,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/rock-albums/2014-06-28 |title=Top Rock Albums |date= June 28, 2014 |magazine=Billboard}} selling 18,000 copies in the first week. The album has sold 71,000 copies in the United States as of August 2016.{{cite magazine |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160829210341/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |archivedate= August 29, 2016 |url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases |magazine=Hits Daily Double |publisher=HITS Digital Ventures }}

"Whispers" received a 2015 Grammy nomination {{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/nominees/search%3Fartist%3DAntonio%2BSanchez%26title%3D%26year%3DAll%26genre%3DAll?genre=22|title=58th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees|work=The GRAMMYs}} for Best Recording Package. The art director,{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/63999056/Kiwi-Sarah-Larnach-in-with-Grammy-chance|title=Kiwi Sarah Larnach in with Grammy chance|author=ELESHA EDMONDS|date=9 December 2014|work=Stuff}} Sarah Larnach, was also the artist and designer on the album and credits Mike Rosenberg with creating the concept. "Whispers" is the third Passenger album cover created by Sarah Larnach.

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Mike Rosenberg

| title1 = Coins in a Fountain

| length1 = 3:04

| title2 = 27

| length2 = 3:20

| title3 = Heart's on Fire

| length3 = 4:13

| title4 = Bullets

| length4 = 3:24

| title5 = Golden Leaves

| length5 = 4:07

| title6 = Thunder

| length6 = 2:25

| title7 = Rolling Stone

| length7 = 3:22

| title8 = Start a Fire

| length8 = 4:21

| title9 = Whispers

| length9 = 4:02

| title10 = Riding to New York

| length10 = 5:02

| title11 = Scare Away the Dark

| length11 = 4:38

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks

| title12 = Heart's on Fire

| note12 = Acoustic

| length12 = 3:56

| title13 = Coins in a Fountain

| note13 = Acoustic

| length13 = 2:49

| title14 = Riding to New York

| note14 = Acoustic

| length14 = 4:49

| title15 = Start a Fire

| note15 = Acoustic

| length15 = 3:56

| title16 = Golden Leaves

| note16 = Acoustic

| length16 = 4:03

| title17 = Rolling Stone

| note17 = Acoustic

| length17 = 3:27

| title18 = Whispers

| note18 = Acoustic

| length18 = 3:44

}}

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Category:2014 albums

Category:Passenger (singer) albums

Category:Nettwerk Records albums