{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = The Afterlove | type = studio | artist = James Blunt | cover = James-blunt-the-afterlove.jpg | alt = | released = 24 March 2017 | recorded = September 2016 – January 2017 | venue = | studio = | genre = Pop, Dance | length = 36:31 | label = Atlantic UK | producer = {{hlist|Ryan Tedder|Ed Sheeran|Zach Skelton|Andrew DeRoberts|Teddy Geiger|Daniel Parker|Stephan Moccio|Jay Paul Bicknell {{small|(additional prod.)}}|Steve Robson|Martin Terefe}} | prev_title = Moon Landing | prev_year = 2013 | next_title = Once Upon a Mind | next_year = 2019 | misc = {{Singles | name = | type = studio | single1 = Love Me Better | single1date = 27 January 2017 | single2 = Bartender | single2date = 10 March 2017 }} }}
'''''The Afterlove''''' is the fifth studio album by English singer James Blunt, released on 24 March 2017 through Atlantic Records.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/ed-sheeran-new-james-blunt-album-afterlove-1956571 |title=Ed Sheeran has written songs for the new James Blunt album |work=NME |date=24 January 2017 |accessdate=6 March 2017 |last=Milton |first=Jamie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-afterlove/id1197344781 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220173125/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-afterlove/id1197344781 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2017 |title=The Afterlove by James Blunt |website=iTunes |accessdate=20 February 2017}}</ref> To promote the album, Blunt embarked on The Afterlove World Tour in August 2017.
==Background== On 23 January 2017, Blunt posted a video clip on his Twitter to announce ''The Afterlove'', with the caption "Check out my 12 inch..." In the clip, Blunt appeared naked from the waist up in his bathtub, promising to show fans "something huge", with the camera then panning down to him holding a 12-inch copy of the album.<ref>{{cite tweet|author=James Blunt|user=JamesBlunt|number=823590788760293376|date=23 January 2017|title=Check out my 12 inch…|accessdate=22 March 2017}}</ref> Blunt recorded the album between 2015 and 2016 before it was finished in early 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/01/23/james-blunt-announces-new-album-the-afterlove-from-his-bath-in-hilarious-video-6400022/|title=James Blunt announces new album The Afterlove from his bath in hilarious video|last=Starkey|first=Adam|date=23 January 2017|work=Metro|publisher=DMG Media|accessdate=22 March 2017}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Album ratings | MC = 54/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-afterlove/james-blunt|title=Reviews for The Afterlove|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=30 March 2017}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-afterlove-mw0003016392|title=James Blunt – The Afterlove|publisher=AllMusic|last=Yeung|first=Neil Z. Thomas|accessdate=30 March 2017}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Financial Times'' | rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="FT">{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/08c630f0-0f68-11e7-a88c-50ba212dce4d|title=James Blunt: The Afterlove — 'carefully structured'|work=Financial Times|last=Hunter-Tilney|first=Ludovic|date=25 March 2017|accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> | rev3 = ''The Guardian'' | rev3score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/mar/23/james-blunt-the-afterlove-review|title=James Blunt: The AfterLove review – slightly desperate and actively risible|work=The Guardian|last=Aroesti|first=Rachel|date=23 March 2017|accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Irish Times'' | rev4score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref name="IrishTimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-reviews/james-blunt-is-back-with-the-afterlove-and-resistance-is-futile-1.3017280?mode=amp|title=James Blunt is back with The Afterlove and resistance is futile|work=The Irish Times|last=Clayton-Lea|first=Tony|date=23 March 2017|accessdate=30 March 2017}}</ref> | rev5 = ''London Evening Standard'' | rev5score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref name="Standard">{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/music/james-blunt-the-afterlove-review-renovated-balladry-a3498151.html|title=James Blunt – The Afterlove review: 'renovated balladry'|work=London Evening Standard|last=Godwin|first=Richard|date=24 March 2017|accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> | rev6 = ''The Times'' | rev6score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref name="TheTimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/pop-james-blunt-the-afterlove-lxqjkq7jf|title=Pop: James Blunt: The Afterlove|work=The Times|last=Hodgkinson|first=Will|date=24 March 2017|access-date=30 March 2017}}</ref> }} At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, ''The Afterlove'' received an average score of 54 based on 4 reviews.<ref name="MC"/> Neil Z. Yeung from AllMusic gave the album a positive four-star review, writing: "The Afterlove is a brave bid for contemporary relevance in 2017, a wonderful step outside his [Blunt's] comfort zone that is more memorable and exciting than much of his output this decade."<ref name="AllMusic"/> Ludovic Hunter-Tilney from the ''Financial Times'' gave a positive three-star review and called the songs "carefully structured", with "appealing melodies, on-trend chart pop production and A-list collaborators (including Sheeran) [that] attest to Blunt's musical staying power."<ref name="FT"/>
Richard Godwin of the ''London Evening Standard'' gave a mixed two-star review, summarising that "[t]he self-deprecating singer songwriter has not lost his way with sentiment" and that the album "finds the former soldier renovating his balladry by means of an R'n'B filter and a few tricks learned from his label-mate: judicious use of auto-tune, choppy guitar grooves and disarming honesty." Godwin also called "Bartender" "catchier than the common cold."<ref name="Standard"/> Rachel Aroesti of ''The Guardian'' gave a negative two-star review, calling the album "[s]lightly desperate and actively risible." Although labelling the lyrics "inoffensive", Aroesti went on to write: "with Blunt having adopted a watered-down version of Justin Bieber's asinine tropical house it smacks of a desire to edge on to Radio 1 playlists and into student nights incognito, but only serves to highlight how irritating the sound has become."<ref name="Guardian"/>
==Singles== The first single from the album, "Love Me Better", debuted at number 93 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16244/james-blunt/ |title=James Blunt {{!}} full Official Chart history |website=Official Charts Company |accessdate=20 February 2017}}</ref> The second single, "Bartender", was released on 10 March 2017 along with an accompanying music video.<ref>{{cite web|last=James Blunt|title=James Blunt - Bartender [Official Video]|date=10 March 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAyjgG0-Deg|accessdate=11 March 2017}}</ref>
===Promotional singles=== "Time of Our Lives" was released on 14 February 2017 as a promotional single for Valentine's Day.<ref>{{cite web|last=James Blunt|title=James Blunt - Time Of Our Lives [Official Snippet]|date=14 February 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkx2r2xwBtw&spfreload=10|accessdate=11 March 2017}}</ref> This was followed by the release of "Make Me Better" on 2 March 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-james-blunts-new-track-make-be-better-written-with-ed-sheeran-2000561|title=Listen to James Blunt's new track 'Make Me Better' written with Ed Sheeran - NME|date=3 March 2017|work=NME|access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = | title1 = Love Me Better | writer1 = {{hlist|James Blunt|Ryan Tedder|Zach Skelton}} | extra1 = {{hlist|Tedder|Skelton}} | length1 = 3:38 | title2 = Bartender | writer2 = Blunt, Teddy Geiger, Steph Jones, Daniel Parker | extra2 = Teddy Geiger, Daniel Parker | length2 = 3:13 | title3 = Lose My Number | writer3 = Blunt, Tedder, Skelton | extra3 = Tedder, Skelton | length3 = 3:28 | title4 = Don't Give Me Those Eyes | writer4 = Blunt, Maureen McDonald, Stephan Moccio | extra4 = Stephan Moccio | length4 = 3:44 | title5 = Someone Singing Along | writer5 = Blunt, Steve Robson, Emily Warren | extra5 = Steve Robson | length5 = 3:33 | title6 = California | writer6 = Blunt, McDonald, Moccio | extra6 = Moccio, Jay Paul Bicknell {{small|(additional prod.)}} | length6 = 3:20 | title7 = Make Me Better | writer7 = Blunt, Johnny McDaid, Ed Sheeran | extra7 = Sheeran | length7 = 3:52 | title8 = Time of Our Lives | writer8 = Blunt, Sheeran, Tedder | extra8 = Andrew DeRoberts, Tedder | length8 = 4:30 | title9 = Heartbeat | writer9 = Blunt, Robson, Dewain Whitmore | extra9 = Robson | length9 = 3:21 | title10 = Paradise | writer10 = Blunt, Amy Wadge | extra10 = Martin Terefe | length10 = 3:32 }} {{Track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | headline = Extended version bonus tracks<ref>{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-afterlove-extended-version/1239870801 |title=The Afterlove (Extended Version) by James Blunt |website=iTunes |access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref> | total_length = | title11 = Courtney's Song | writer11 = Blunt, McDaid | extra11 = Terefe | length11 = 4:26 | title12 = 2005 | writer12 = Blunt, Steve Mac, Wadge | extra12 = Terefe | length12 = 4:05 | title13 = Over | writer13 = Blunt, Parker, John Geiger II | extra13 = Geiger, Parker | length13 = 4:14 | title14 = Love Me Better | note14 = music video) (iTunes version only | length14 = 3:40 | title15 = OK | note15 = Robin Schulz featuring James Blunt | writer15 = Blunt, Robin Schulz, Mac, MoZella | extra15 = Schulz | length15 = 3:09 }}
==Charts== {{col-start}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2017–18) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- {{album chart|Australia|7|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|Austria|7|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|17|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|8|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|BillboardCanada|6|artist=James Blunt|rowheader=true|accessdate=4 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|10|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|France|14|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|accessdate=4 October 2019}} |- {{album chart|Germany|6|id=324142|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|accessdate=31 March 2017}} |- {{album chart|Hungary|4|year=2017|week=13|rowheader=true|accessdate=7 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|Ireland2|7|artist=James Blunt|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|Italy|10|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|New Zealand|13|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|accessdate=31 March 2017}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|4|date=2017-03-31|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|Spain|19|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|access-date=5 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|4|artist=James Blunt|album=The Afterlove|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|UK2|6|date=2017-03-31|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|177|artist=James Blunt|rowheader=true|accessdate=4 April 2017}} |- {{album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|66|artist=James Blunt|rowheader=true|access-date=15 April 2017}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2017) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2017/albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Albums 2017|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|accessdate=5 January 2018}}</ref> | 79 |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2017&cat=a|title=Rapports Annuels 2017|publisher=Ultratop|accessdate=10 April 2021}}</ref> | 82 |- ! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2017|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade Alben 2017 – hitparade.ch|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=31 December 2017}}</ref> | 40 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=James Blunt|title=The Afterlove|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2017|certyear=2024|accessdate=27 October 2024|id=14517-1109-2}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true | noshipments=true}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{James Blunt}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Afterlove}} Category:2017 albums Category:James Blunt albums Category:Atlantic Records albums Category:Albums produced by Ed Sheeran Category:Albums produced by Martin Terefe Category:Albums produced by Ryan Tedder Category:Albums produced by Steve Robson