Memories…Do Not Open

''Memories...Do Not Open'' is the debut studio album by American electronic music duo the Chainsmokers, released on April 7, 2017, by Disruptor Records and Columbia Records. Its release was preceded by the singles "Paris" and "Something Just Like This" (in collaboration with Coldplay), both of which reached the top 10 in several national charts. Upon its release, the album received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200 with 221,000 album-equivalent units, of which 166,000 were pure album sales.

Background

Chris Martin of Coldplay had first tweeted about the album, prompting the Chainsmokers to confirm it. It was revealed during an on-screen Grammy red carpet interview with the duo that their album title was to be named ''Memories...Do Not Open'' and it would be released on April 7, just before they embarked on the tour of the same name. As seen in the interview, Taggart was hesitant after revealing the release date of the album, before asking Pall if he should say it. Taggart said "We're ready. We've got a full album; it's going to be amazing. It's coming out April 7, was I supposed to say that?" before Pall responded "No, but it's alright".

Singles

The lead single, "Paris", was released on January 13, 2017. The lead single peaked at number 6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The song went on to receive multiple certifications.

The second single, "Something Just Like This", which is a collaboration with British alternative rock band Coldplay, was released on February 22, 2017, along with the pre-order of the album. The single peaked at number 3 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. During the week of March 18, 2017, "Something Just Like This", "Paris", along with "Closer", were simultaneously within the top 10 of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, making the Chainsmokers the third group to have three simultaneous top 10 hits.

The third single, "Honest", was sent to top 40 radio on July 11, 2017. The single peaked at number 77 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Promotional singles

A promotional single, titled "The One", was released on March 27, 2017, and reached number 78 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Another promotional single, a remixed version of "Young" by Midnight Kids, was released on September 29, 2017.

Critical reception

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 43, based on eight reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Damien Morris of ''The Observer'' gave a two-out-of-five star review, describing the group's music as, "instantly memorable yet completely forgettable", comparing the album to US President Donald Trump, "shallow, always betraying its influences, with a third-grade vocabulary and ambition that runs no further than emptying the nearest wallet." In ''Entertainment Weekly'', Barry Walters highlighted the duo's commercial success, describing their style as, "smoothed-out, mid-tempo, nearly easy-listening formula", but opined it sounds, "as if you're playing the radio instead of one solitary album". He considered "Break Up Every Night" as the only dance cut, while "the other cuts are basically ballads with beats — modernized Moby without the soul-searching or gospel samples."

Sal Cinquemani from ''Slant Magazine'' gave the album two stars out of five, criticizing Taggart's lack of personality and vocal ability. Additionally, Cinquemani stated, "the downside to the wild success of that approach is that Taggart and Pall have been forced to discover their creative voices in front of the whole world. And unfortunately, the sound they've settled on is parked firmly in the middle of the road." On AllMusic, Neil Yeung also gave a two-out-of-five star review, calling ''Memories...Do Not Open'' a, "calculated dose of millennial escapism that peddles the same sounds as their far more engaging EP work." Maeve McDermott of ''USA Today'' questioned, "is this the worst album of 2017?", calling Taggart's vocals "hilariously bad". Philip Sherburne of ''Pitchfork'' claimed that, "The debut album from the celebrity production duo is a somber departure from their EDM days—a lifeless, anodyne pop record that wallows in basic feelings of regret and narcissism." Along with comparing the album to 2014 single " #SELFIE", Sherburne wrote, "None of it sounds anything like '#SELFIE,' but its worldview is barely any bigger than that song's narrow perspective".

Jon Caramanica from ''The New York Times'' called the album a "savvy success that cannily toys with expectations" with its songs veering from the "usual gut punch" approach for its drops, but felt that the record is a "meaningless concept" in the "big-festival dance music" where the duo thrived in. He also commented on Taggart's "capable but unexciting" vocal performance and his "shockingly" few lyrical ideas, with most of the album's songs " oaningabout brittle young relationships". Jordan Sargent of ''Spin'' observed the monotony of the record, stating: "The Chainsmokers have one song, and if you don’t want to hear 12 versions of it, please do not un-click the latch holding this box closed." He noted Taggart's "unique" vocal accessibility for listeners, but felt that his charm dissipated as the album wears on which resulted in a "series of songs that bleed endlessly into each other".

On Metacritic, ''Memories...Do Not Open'' stands as the lowest ranked album of 2017.

Commercial performance

''Memories...Do Not Open'' debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 with 221,000 album-equivalent units, of which 166,000 were pure album sales. As of August 25, 2017, the album has moved 1,000,000 album-equivalent units in the United States.

Track listing

* signifies additional producer
* signifies co-producer
* signifies vocal producer

Personnel

Credits are adapted from ''Memories...Do Not Open'' CD liner notes.

The Chainsmokers
*Andrew Taggart
* Alex Pall

Additional musicians

*Emily Warren – vocals , background vocals
* Sean Scanlon – additional vocals
* Jordan Young – background/additional vocals
*Phoebe Ryan – background vocals
*Kane Parfitt – piano, keyboards
*Philip Plested – guitar
*Matthew Holmes – sampling and programming
*Philip Leigh – sampling and programming
*Chris Martin – vocals , piano
*Guy Berryman – bass guitar
*Jonny Buckland – lead guitar
*Will Champion – drums , backing vocals , programming
* Louane – vocals
*Harry Roberts – background vocals
*Jhené Aiko – vocals
*Jeremy Most – guitars
*Jonathan Perkins – string arrangement
* Brian Kelley – vocals
*Tyler Hubbard – vocals

Design and managerial

*James Zwadlo – photography, creative direction
*Olivia Smith – package design
*Adam Alpert – management

Production

*The Chainsmokers – producers
*Adam Alpert – executive producer
* Alex Pall – executive producer
*Captain Cuts – co-production
*KIN – co-production
*Mac & Phil – co-production
*Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young – additional production , vocal production, mixing, recording
*Chris Gehringer – mastering
*Emily Lazar – mastering
*Chris Allgood – mastering assistant
*Nicole "Coco" Llorens – recording assistant
*Martin Gray – recording assistant
*Desi Aguilar – recording assistant
*Rik Simpson – recording (band tracks)
*Owen Butcher – recording assistant (band tracks)
*Daniel Green – recording (additional band tracks)
*Tony Smith – recording assistant (additional band tracks)
*Bill Rahko – recording (vocals and piano)
*Aleks Von Korff – recording assistant (vocals and piano)
*Adam Catania – recording
*Matthew Holmes – recording
*Philip Leigh – recording
*Emily Warren – recording
* Alex Pall – recording
*Brian Warfield – recording
*Joey Moi – vocal production
*Eivind Nordland – vocal editing

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

See also

* List of ''Billboard'' 200 number-one albums of 2017
* List of ''Billboard'' number-one electronic albums of 2017
* List of number-one albums of 2017 (Canada)

References

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2017 debut albums
Albums produced by DJ Swivel
The Chainsmokers albums
Columbia Records albums
Albums produced by Mac & Phil
Disruptor Records albums