Tribute (John Newman album)

Background

In an interview with Adam Silverstein of Digital Spy in June 2013, Newman said: "[The album]'s got everything in influences, from the orchestral, breakbeats, the hip-hop, the house music. It's pretty much a break-up album and the lyrics express that. I wanted to make sure that I crafted an album you can enjoy as a piece of art and not a Rihanna album-style thing where it's just ten singles." He was also asked if it was hard to write songs about love and break-up, he said: "No, it's the only place where I really open up to somebody, through my music. I'm producing and writing it, it's good. I like to keep a hold of everything." Talking again to Digital Spy in October 2013 about the album, he said: "I was going through a pretty bad break-up while I was making the album and I felt the title really needed to resonate. This record is a culmination of my life to this point, it's who I am and I wanted to thank everyone who has helped, supported, loved me and been an inspiration to me. I'm so proud of this album, it expresses me as a producer, as a songwriter and an artist, and I can't wait for people to hear it."

Singles

"Love Me Again" was released as the lead single from the album on 17 May 2013. The song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The song was also a top 10 hit in more than ten countries including Australia, Belgium, New Zealand and Switzerland, as well as being Newman's first, and so far, only top 40 single in the United States.

"Cheating" was released as the second single from the album on 6 October 2013. The song peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart. The song has also charted in Belgium and Ireland.

"Losing Sleep" was released as the third single from the album on 16 December 2013. It charted at number 99 in the UK Singles Chart prior to release on the week ending 14 December 2013. It has so far peaked at number 48 in the UK and number 36 in Scotland.

"Out Of My Head" was released as the album's fourth single and peaked at number 91 on the UK Singles Chart.

Critical reception

Tribute has received generally positive reviews from music critics. Kitty Empire of The Observer gave the album a mixed review stating, "The latest in a long line of 60s revivers, John Newman, who has had two number one singles (Rudimental's "Feel the Love", his own "Love Me Again"), lists all his inspirations on the title track of his début. They should include Plan B. You could easily subtitle this record The Reincarnation of Strickland Banks, if tracks such as "Out of My Head" weren't quite so autobiographical. On superior cuts such as "Cheating", meanwhile, this 23-year-old be-quiffed Yorkshireman looks like continuing his gilded strike rate. But where Plan B or Amy Winehouse, the doyenne of revival pop, always added an element of top spin to their tributes, Newman merely reinterprets well, rather than reinventing."

Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave the album a positive review stating, "It's all for you/ For what you have shown me/ And for what you do," John Newman sings on opening track 'Tribute' from his début album of the same name. The soul singer is paying homage to a wide range of musical influences that have helped shape his sound, the list including everyone from Elvis Presley and Tina Turner to Jay Z and Adele. While his tastes are obviously eclectic, his first collection infuses these inspirations without compromising consistency. Let it be said that John Newman is neo-soul to the core – his distinctive vocal with a tinge of rasp giving him no option in the matter. That's not to say other influences don't play an important part throughout his music. 'Try' flirts with italo piano and jaunty strings which echoes '70s disco, while recent single 'Cheating' bounds around with tin-rattling break-beats from the shadows of '90s house. But while the musicality of the record dips its toe in and out of genres, the subject of love remains prominently at the forefront. Whether Newman is reflecting on the difficulties of the heart on 'Easy' or crooning for forgiveness on 'Love Me Again', Tribute thrives on a rollercoaster narrative of broken relationships, gutsy emotions and broody intent. What's more, the collection doesn't suffer from burn-out towards the finish. 'Running' is a pulsing mid-tempo with a strong whiff of Emeli Sandé to it, while 'Goodnight Goodbye' soars with a lofty chorus that is primed for an impressive live outing. The list of influences for John Newman's début may be long, but rather than emulating his idols, he is in fact following in their footsteps – and Tribute gets him off to a very strong start."

Andy Gill of The Independent gave the album a mixed review, stating, "Rudimental's "Feel the Love" proclaimed John Newman as a powerful new voice in UK R&B, an impression reinforced by his chart-topper "Love Me Again". But he's keen to demonstrate how much deeper his influences go, introducing this album with a litany of soul singers' names leading into "Tribute", his smoky timbre borne on exultant strings that also allude to a classic-soul era. It's impressive stuff, though as early as the third or fourth track, the formula of impassioned smouldering leading to hugely telegraphed refrains is getting a little predictable. Variety is furnished by the desolate plaint of "Out of My Head" and the gospelly backing vocals of "Running", also the source of the album's best line: "Trying to stop a river when it wants to rise."

Commercial performance

On 17 October 2013, the album entered the Irish Albums Chart at number 8. On 19 October 2013, the album entered the Dutch Albums Chart at number 51. On 20 October 2013, the album entered the UK Albums Chart and Scottish Albums Chart at number one. The album débuted at number 7 on the Australian Albums Chart. The album débuted at number 6 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The album has also peaked to number 20 in Austria, number 33 in Belgium, number 18 in Denmark, number 37 in France, number 21 in Germany, number 6 in Hungary, number 28 in Italy, number 12 in Norway, number 30 in Spain and number 11 in Switzerland.