Language is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter and record producer MNEK.[9][10][11] It was released on 7 September 2018 through Virgin EMI Records[12] and became his second solo project, succeeding his debut extended play Small Talk, released in 2015. Singles from Language include "Tongue", "Colour", "Correct" and "Girlfriend". The album's release was followed by a UK tour in 2018 and an American leg in 2019.

Language
Studio album by
Released7 September 2018
Recorded2015–2018
StudioMajor Tom's (London, UK)
Genre
Length46:00
LabelVirgin EMI
Producer
MNEK chronology
Small Talk EP
(2015)
Language
(2018)
Singles from Language
  1. "Paradise"
    Released: 12 July 2017
  2. "Tongue"
    Released: 28 February 2018
  3. "Colour"
    Released: 1 June 2018
  4. "Crazy World"
    Released: 16 August 2018
  5. "Correct"
    Released: 31 August 2018
  6. "Girlfriend"
    Released: 6 February 2019
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash6/10[2]
DIY[3]
The Guardian[4]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[5]
MusicOMH[6]
NME[7]
Rolling Stone[8]

Language was received well by critics, with NME awarded Language four stars,[7] as did The Line of Best Fit.[5]

Accolades

edit
Accolades for Language
Publication Accolade Rank
Billboard Billboard's 50 Best Albums of 2018
Idolator Idolator's 25 Best Albums of 2018
MusicOMH MusicOMH's 50 Best Albums of 2018
Paper Paper's 20 Best Albums of 2018

Track listing

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Language track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Background"Uzoechi EmenikeMNEK1:29
2."Correct"EmenikeMNEK3:55
3."Tongue"
  • Emenike
  • Julia Karlsson
  • Anton Rundberg
  • MNEK
  • Hightower
3:28
4."Gibberish (Interlude)"
  • Emenike
  • Ryan Campbell
MNEK0:19
5."Phone"Emenike3:23
6."Colour" (featuring Hailee Steinfeld)
3:41
7."Body"
  • Emenike
  • Campbell
3:57
8."Honeymoon Phaze"
  • Emenike
  • Campbell
5:32
9."Language"Emenike
  • MNEK
  • Jean-Marie
1:04
10."Hearsay (Interlude)"
  • Emenike
  • Chimnezie Emenike
MNEK0:15
11."Girlfriend"MNEK4:03
12."Paradise"
4:28
13."Crazy World"MNEK3:46
14."Be (Interlude)"
  • Emenike
  • Leo Kalyan
MNEK0:17
15."Free"
  • Emenike
  • Campbell
MNEK3:45
16."Touched by You"
  • Emenike
  • Zachary Poor
  • Robert McCurdy
  • Christopher Petrosino
  • Karlsson
  • Rundberg
  • MNEK
  • Hightower
  • NoiseClub
  • TommyD[a]
3:18
Total length:46:00

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
  • ^[b] signifies an original producer.
  • "Gibberish (Interlude)" features un-credited vocals from Ryan Ashley.
  • "Correct" features un-credited vocals from Ryan Ashley, Tre Jean-Marie and Kate Stewart.
  • "Colour" samples lyrical content from the song "The Rainbow Song", originally written by Arthur Hamilton.
  • "Body" partially samples the album's previous track "Colour", featuring Hailee Steinfeld.
  • "Hearsay (Interlude)" features un-credited vocals from Barto.
  • "Girlfriend" samples the song "Ai No Corrida", originally performed and written by Chaz Jankel.
  • "Paradise" samples the song "Free", originally performed and written by Ultra Naté.

References

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  1. ^ "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  2. ^ Atkinson, Jess (11 September 2018). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  3. ^ Goggins, Joe. "DIY Magazine Review". DIY. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  4. ^ Aroesti, Rachel (7 September 2018). "Language review – people-pleasing pop and camp braggadocio". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Debut album Language provides MNEK with a deserved place in the spotlight". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  6. ^ Devlin, Ben (6 September 2018). "MusicOMH Review". MusicOMH. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  7. ^ a b "MNEK – 'Language' review". nme.com. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  8. ^ Leight, Elias (7 September 2018). "MNEK's Hook-Deficient Debut 'Language'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  9. ^ "MNEK Releases Sexy Single 'Tongue' From His Upcoming Debut Album". Billboard. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Play MNEK's "Tongue" and tell someone special that you love them". The Fader. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  11. ^ "MNEK's honest album". Femalefirst.co.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Language by MNEK". iTunes Store. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Billboard's 50 Best Albums of 2018". Billboard. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  14. ^ Wass, Mike (29 December 2018). "25 Best Albums of 2018". Idolator. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  15. ^ Hubbard, Michael (5 December 2018). "MusicOMH's Top 50 Albums of 2018". MusicOMH. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Paper's Top 20 Albums of 2018". Paper. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.