Love Monster (album)

Love Monster is the debut studio album by Australian alternative pop singer-songwriter Amy Shark, released on 13 July 2018 by Wonderlick Entertainment and Sony Music Australia.

Love Monster
Studio album by
Amy Shark
Released13 July 2018 (2018-07-13)
GenrePop[1]
Length47:11
Label
Producer
Amy Shark chronology
Night Thinker
(2017)		 Love Monster
(2018)		 Cry Forever
(2021)
Singles from Love Monster
  1. "I Said Hi"
    Released: 13 April 2018
  2. "Don't Turn Around"
    Released: 8 June 2018
  3. "Psycho"
    Released: 22 June 2018
  4. "All Loved Up"
    Released: 3 August 2018
  5. "Mess Her Up"
    Released: 1 March 2019

Shark said "I think I want to start explaining it like the first two seasons of a great series you've just found. It's full of so much drama. There's first loves, there's rejection and lies and beautiful moments and nasty moments and there's a death. It's a great series."[2]

The album was supported by an Australian national tour throughout August and September 2018.[3]

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2018, Love Monster won Album of the Year, Best Female Artist and Best Pop Release.[4]

At the J Awards of 2018, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year.[5]

Singles

"I Said Hi" is the album's lead single, released on 13 April 2018. It reached the top 10 and peaked at #6 in Australia. The song is about overcoming adversity and a nod to perseverance. Shark explains: "It's about the struggle of the ups and downs of the industry. It hasn't been a complete Cinderella story for me from day one. It's taken a while."[6]

"Don't Turn Around" was originally released on 8 June 2018 as an album pre-order track,[7] and was later confirmed as the album's second single.[8] In a statement, Shark said: "It's a song that talks about the desire to run into someone you have feelings for, a history with who knows you too well."[9]

"Psycho" was released on 22 June 2018 as an album pre-order track and the album's third single.[10] The song tells the emotional, relatable saga of vulnerability and the complications that often come with falling in love.[11] The track features vocals from Blink-182 frontman and bassist, Mark Hoppus.

"All Loved Up" was released to radio on 3 August 2018 as the album's fourth single. The following week, it was the most added song on radio.[12]

A single edit of "Mess Her Up" was released digitally on 1 March 2019 as the album's fifth single. The digital single included an acoustic version of the track.

The album includes the single "Adore" from Shark's 2017 Night Thinker EP.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Music[1]
Herald Sun[13]
auspOp[14]

Madelyn Tait from The Music ranked the album 4 out of 5 saying: "With Shark seemingly unafraid of being vulnerable and exposing it all in her lyrics, Love Monster is full of super-specific storytelling that still seems universally relatable", adding that the album is "full of memorable melodies, lyrical poetry and pop sensibility." Tait added "In terms of composition and production, Love Monster draws influences from several genres and styles, resulting in an interesting final product, bound together by Shark's distinct vocals."[1]

Cameron Adams from Herald Sun gave the album 4 out of 5 saying "Shark's power is intimate lyrics, littered with visual references that manage to be both personal and communal."[13]

David from auspOp gave the album 4 out of 5 saying Shark has "created a strong debut album" adding it "tackles all the experiences we have in life; love, loss, anger – it's all there." He concluded saying "It's really hard to get a debut album right, but Shark has done a great job in creating a diverse, yet cohesive set."[14]

Track listing
Love Monster track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Got You"
Dann Hume2:58
2."Adore"
3:05
3."All Loved Up"
Antonoff3:30
4."I Said Hi"
  • Billings
2:48
5."The Idiot"
  • Billings
Hume3:17
6."Never Coming Back"
Little3:13
7."Leave Us Alone"
  • Billings
Edwin White3:31
8."Psycho" (featuring Mark Hoppus)
Hoppus3:26
9."Don't Turn Around"
  • Billings
Hume3:05
10."Middle of the Night"
  • Billings
Hume3:38
11."Mess Her Up"
  • Billings
Hume3:28
12."The Slow Song"
  • Billings
Hume2:52
13."I'm a Liar"
  • Billings
Hume3:24
14."You Think I Think I Sound Like God"
  • Billings
Hume4:55
Total length:47:11

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] 1
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[16] 7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 34
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18] 2

Year-end charts
Chart (2018) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] 14
Chart (2019) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] 31

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[21] Platinum 70,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Country Date Format Label Catalogue
Australia 13 July 2018 Digital download,[22] CD,[23] vinyl[24] Wonderlick Entertainment, Sony Music Australia LICK021 /LICK025

See also

References
  1. Tait, Madelyn (12 July 2018). "Amy Shark / Love Monster". The Music. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  2. "Splendour 2018 Act Amy Shark Releases First Single From Upcoming Debut Album". The Music. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  3. "Amy Shark Announces 2018 National 'Love Monster' Tour". Music Feeds. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  4. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (28 November 2018). "And the ARIA Award Goes To..." Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  5. "The J Award 2018". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  6. "First Spin: Amy Shark unveils debut album with 'I Said Hi'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  7. "Amy Shark Releases New Track "Don't Turn Around" Along With Lyric Video". RCA Records. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  8. Holly Terrens (16 June 2018). "Amy Shark drops new single Don't Turn Around from her debut album LOVE MONSTER". Outlet. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  9. "First Spin: Amy Shark Don't Turn Around". ABC. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  10. "LISTEN: Amy Shark Drops New Single Featuring Blink-182's Mark Hoppus". theMusic.com.au. Street Press Australia. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  11. "AMY SHARK – 'PSYCHO' (FEAT. MARK HOPPUS)". Mushroom. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  12. "Amy Shark bags second Most Added crown of the year". The Music Network. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  13. Adams, Cameron (11 July 2018). "It's Shark week: Amy drops four star debut album Love Monster". Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  14. David (17 July 2018). "David checks out Amy Shark's 'Love Monster'". auspOp. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  15. "Australiancharts.com – Amy Shark – Love Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  16. "Charts.nz – Amy Shark – Love Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  17. "Swisscharts.com – Amy Shark – Love Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  18. "Amy Shark Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  19. "2018 Annual ARIA Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  20. "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  21. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  22. "Love Monster". iTunes Store. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  23. "Love Monster CD". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  24. "Love Monster Limited JB Hi-Fi Exclusive White Vinyl". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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