Oh, What a Life (album)

Oh, What a Life
Studio album by American Authors
Released March 3, 2014
Recorded 2011–13
Genre Indie rock, heartland rock, folk rock, Rock, alternative rock
Length 37:03
Label Mercury, Island
Producer Shep Goodman, Aaron Accetta
American Authors chronology

American Authors
(2013)		 Oh, What a Life
(2014)
Singles from Oh, What a Life
  1. "Believer"
    Released: March 19, 2013
  2. "Best Day of My Life"
    Released: March 19, 2013
  3. "Trouble"
    Released: February 18, 2014
  4. "Luck"
    Released: March 3, 2014
  5. "Think About It"
    Released: July 1, 2014
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [1]

Oh, What a Life is the debut studio album by American indie rock band American Authors. The album was released by Island Def Jam label Mercury Records on March 3, 2014. The album is a follow-up to the band's eponymous 2013 extended play, American Authors.

Background

American Authors first formed in 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts as The Blue Pages. The members of the band first met at the Berklee College of Music.[2] The Blue Pages, after relocating to New York City, New York, recorded and independently released two extended plays, Anthropology in February 2011,[3] and Rich With Love in January 2012,[4] as name-your-price albums on online music store Bandcamp. It was only released in the USA.

In 2012, The Blue Pages changed their name to American Authors. Their debut single, "Believer," garnered attention through alternative rock radio.[5] Their second single, "Best Day of My Life", was featured in a Lowe's television advertisement in the United States, a Hyundai television advertisement in the United Kingdom, a Telecom New Zealand advertisement,[6] a trailer for the film Delivery Man, and the opening sequence for ESPN's 2013 World Series of Poker coverage. In January 2013, the band were signed to Mercury Records.[7]

American Authors released their self-titled debut EP on August 27, 2013.[8] Their song "Hit It" is featured on the FIFA 14 video game.[9] Their song "Best Day of My Life" was used in a MLB Fan Cave commercial and is the title music of Sky Sports News' My Special Day feature. It is also featured in the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Their song "Oh, What a Life" was featured in the opening montage of the 2014 ESPY Awards.

Track listing

All songs written by Zac Barnett, James Shelley, Dave Rublin, Matthew Sanchez, Shep Goodman, and Aaron Accetta, except where noted. All tracks produced by Goodman and Accetta.

Standard edition[10]
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Believer"    3:03
2. "Think About It"    3:04
3. "Best Day of My Life"    3:14
4. "Luck"    3:40
5. "Trouble"    3:15
6. "Hit It"    3:27
7. "Home"    4:09
8. "Love"    3:18
9. "Heart of Stone"    3:07
10. "Ghost"    2:55
11. "Oh, What a Life"  Barnett, Shelley, Rublin, Sanchez 3:41
Total length:
 37:03
iTunes Store deluxe edition[10]
No. Title Length
12. "Best Day of My Life" (Acoustic) 3:15
Total length:
 40:18

Personnel

American Authors

Chart positions

Chart (2014) Peak
position
scope="row" Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 35
scope="row" Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[12] 58
scope="row" Canadian Albums (Billboard)[13] 12
scope="row" German Albums (Official Top 100)[14] 68
scope="row" Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] 22
scope="row" UK Albums (OCC)[16] 26
scope="row" US Billboard 200[17] 15
scope="row" US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[18] 3
scope="row" US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[19] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
US Top Rock Albums[20] 63
US Alternative Albums (Billboard)[21] 49

Certification

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Mexico (AMPROFON)[22] Platinum 60,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Monger, James Christopher. "American Authors Oh, What a Life". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  2. ↑ American Authors Interview January 12, 2013
  3. ↑ "Anthropology by The Blue Pages". Bandcamp. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Rich With Love by The Blue Pages". Bandcamp. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  5. ↑ A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Tres! American Authors, Hunter Valentine, and Clementine & The Galaxy Huffington Post December 12, 2012
  6. ↑ 2013 Telecom NZ Advertisement on YouTube
  7. ↑ AMERICAN AUTHORS SIGN TO MERCURY RECORDS January 31, 2013
  8. ↑ We’re releasing our debut EP in August!
  9. ↑ http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/fifa-14-soundtrack-announced-featuring-2264709
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "iTunes – Music – Oh, What a Life by American Authors". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American Authors – Oh, What A Life". Australiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American Authors – Oh, What A Life" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  13. ↑ "American Authors Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for American Authors. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  14. ↑ "American Authors – Oh, What A Life". Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  15. ↑ "2014-03-29 Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  16. ↑ "American Authors | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  17. ↑ "American Authors Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for American Authors. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  18. ↑ "American Authors Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Rock Albums for American Authors. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  19. ↑ "American Authors Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for American Authors. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Top Rock Albums: Year End 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Alternative Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 16 January 2015. (subscription required)
  22. ↑ "Certificaciones – American Authors" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.