Shawn Mendes has been in the music scene for quite some time now: he started off making Youtube videos at 13, then gained mad success for his six second covers on Vine (RIP, my soul still hurts). Now, at the mere age of 19, Mendes has released his third studio album which, at the very least, is deserving of a Grammy for Best Pop Album of the Year.
Taylor Swift and the case of the failed concept album
As far as concept albums go, Beyonce’s “Lemonade” is the textbook definition. The thematic arc from “Pray You Catch Me” to “Formation” is abundantly clear and climactic. The journey Beyonce goes through is one of redemption, forgiveness and newfound strength. When she sings “I found the truth beneath your lies” in “Pray You Catch Me,” you know that lies she’s referring to are the secrets she was smelling in “Hold Up.”