Expectations (Hayley Kiyoko album)

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Expectations
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 30, 2018 (2018-03-30)
Recorded2017
GenreElectropop[1]
Length48:37
Label
Producer
Hayley Kiyoko chronology
Citrine
(2016)
Expectations
(2018)
I'm Too Sensitive for This Shit
(2020)
Singles from Expectations
  1. "Sleepover"
    Released: March 3, 2017
  2. "Feelings"
    Released: October 19, 2017
  3. "Curious"
    Released: January 11, 2018
  4. "What I Need"
    Released: May 31, 2018

Expectations is the debut major label studio album by American singer and actress Hayley Kiyoko, released on March 30, 2018. The album title was announced along with its cover on January 1, 2018 through social media.[2] The album was preceded by the singles "Sleepover", "Feelings" and "Curious". Expectations garnered mostly positive reviews from music critics. The album debuted within the top 40 of record charts in Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States.

Singles

Expectations was preceded by the release of three singles, as well as one promotional single. The first single called "Sleepover" was released on March 2, 2017 along its music video, directed by Kiyoko herself, via BuzzFeed.[3] The second single, "Feelings" was released on October 19, 2017 along its self-directed music video.[4] "Curious" was released as the third single on January 11, 2018, with the pre-order of the album and, as the previous singles, along its music video, directed by Kiyoko herself and James Larese. It premiered via Total Request Live.[5][6] "Curious" additionally became Kiyoko's first single to chart, peaking at no. 40 on the US Mainstream Top 40[7] and no. 37 on the US Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart.[8] "Let It Be" was released as a promotional single on March 16, 2018.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Pitchfork6.0/10[12]
The Guardian[13]
The 4058/10[14]
MTVPositive[15]
Newsday.comPositive[16]

Expectations received generally positive reviews from music critics. Laura Snapes, writing for Pitchfork, gave the album a 6 out of 10 rating. She defines the album's best moments as those "trading in specificity rather than generic neediness, representing an experience that rarely finds an outlet in pop." She also, however, criticized the songwriting on the album, stating "it lacks that kind of songwriting consistency." Snapes concludes her review by writing, "Kiyoko’s debut won’t blow past anyone’s expectations, but it contains just enough intrigue and individuality to sustain them for a second shot."[12] Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic wrote, "sometimes, Expectations can be generic, like on "Sleepover" and "He'll Never Love You," [...] However, despite this occasional dip into indistinguishable pop territory, Kiyoko's debut hints at untapped potential from a fresh voice with a relatable perspective."[11] Emily Mackay of The Guardian reacted more positively, calling the album "sparklingly refreshing" and felt the album's ability to "[stay] true to idiosyncratic instinct has made Expectations feel more universal than a generic, play-it-safe debut." Mackay rated the album four stars out of five.[13]

Lauren Mullineaux, writing for The 405, rated the album 8 out of 10, praising the album's LGBT themes. She noted Kiyoko as "the first unabashedly queer female normalising this in the mainstream on such a transparent, visible level; through her lyrics and her videos." Mullineaux was also complimentary towards the album's "polished" production, as well as listing "Mercy/Gatekeeper", "Molecules", and "He'll Never Love You (HNLY)" as album highlights.[14] Sydney Gore of MTV described the album as "a full range of life experiences covered within these 13 tracks, marking the first chapter of an ongoing story that Hayley finally feels comfortable in sharing with the world."[15] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday.com praised the album, writing that "For Kiyoko, “Expectations” couldn't be higher, but the music is so good she seems set to surpass even the loftiest ones."[16]

Track listing

Expectations track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Expectations (Overture)"
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
1:52
2."Feelings"
  • Kiyoko
  • Nick Bailey
  • Dorr
  • Kat Ostenberg
  • Brandon Skeie
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
3:36
3."What I Need" (featuring Kehlani)
Dorr3:39
4."Sleepover"
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
3:53
5."Mercy/Gatekeeper"
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
  • Flores
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
5:44
6."Under the Blue/Take Me In"
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
  • Morier
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
5:37
7."Curious"
3:03
8."xx"Dorr
  • Kiyoko
  • Dorr
0:51
9."Wanna Be Missed"
3:15
10."He'll Never Love You (HNLY)"
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
  • Cara Salimando
  • Kiyoko
  • Dorr
3:51
11."Palm Dreams"
  • Kiyoko
  • Fredrik Berger
  • Gustav Jonsson
  • Skeie
  • Kiyoko
  • Grizzly
5:14
12."Molecules"
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
  • Morier
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
4:10
13."Let It Be"
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
  • Kiyoko
  • Bernardy
  • Dorr
3:41
Total length:48:37

Personnel

Musicians

  • Hayley Kiyoko – lead vocals (all tracks), programming (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13)
  • Jono Dorr – programming (tracks 1–10, 12, 13); background vocals, bass guitar, drum programming, guitar (3); additional keyboards (7)
  • Cecil Bernardy – programming (tracks 1, 2, 4–7, 10, 12, 13), additional keyboards (7)
  • Jack & Coke – drums, keyboards, programming (track 7)
  • Jonas Jeberg – programming (track 9)
  • The Futuristics – programming (track 9)
  • Lawrence William IV – background vocals (track 11)
  • Brandon Skeie – background vocals (track 11)
  • Grizzly – programming (track 11)
  • Allie Gonino – violin (track 12)

Technical

  • Adam Hawkins – mixing
  • Joe LaPortamastering (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 8–13)
  • Dave Kutch – mastering (tracks 2, 7)
  • Tom Coyne – mastering (track 4)
  • Jacob Munk – mixing assistance

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[17] 20
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[18] 47
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[19] 46
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[20] 121
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[21] 16
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[22] 44
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[23] 93
Irish Albums (IRMA)[24] 23
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[25] 25
Scottish Albums (OCC)[26] 21
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 56
UK Albums (OCC)[28] 24
US Billboard 200[29] 12

References

  1. ^ Davis, Arianna. "How Hayley Kiyoko Became Pop Music's "Lesbian Jesus"". Refinery29. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  2. ^ Patrick Crowley (January 1, 2018). "Hayley Kiyoko Reveals Seductive 'Expectations' Album Art & Teases New Single". Billboard.
  3. ^ Sarah Karlan (March 2, 2017). "Hayley Kiyoko's Latest Single Is Here To Make Your Heart Hurt (In The Best Way)". BuzzFeed.
  4. ^ Bianca Gracie (October 19, 2017). "Hayley Kiyoko Reveals All Her 'Feelings' For A Girl In Flirty New Video". Fuse.
  5. ^ Nina Braca (January 11, 2018). "Watch Hayley Kiyoko's Colorful Video for 'Curious'". Billboard.
  6. ^ Sydney Gore (January 11, 2018). "Hayley Kiyoko Premieres "Curious" Visual On TRL". MTV News, TRL. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  7. ^ "Hayley Kiyoko Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  8. ^ "Hayley Kiyoko Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  9. ^ "Hayley Kiyoko Drops Rootsy Teaser Track 'Let It Be'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  10. ^ "Reviews for Expectations by Hayley Kiyoko". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  11. ^ a b "AllMusic Review by Neil Z. Yeung". AllMusic.
  12. ^ a b "Hayley Kiyoko: Expectations Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  13. ^ a b Mackay, Emily (2018-04-01). "Hayley Kiyoko: Expectations review – a sparkling, LA-dreamy debut". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  14. ^ a b "Album Review: Hayley Kiyoko - Expectations". The 405. Archived from the original on 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  15. ^ a b "Hayley Kiyoko's Debut Album Exceeds All 'Expectations'". MTV News. Archived from the original on 2018-04-03. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  16. ^ a b "'Expectations': Hayley Kiyoko's stunning debut". Newsday. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  17. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  18. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  21. ^ "Hayley Kiyoko Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  22. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  23. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  24. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 6 April 2018". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  25. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  27. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  28. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  29. ^ "Hayley Kiyoko Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2018.