Treasure (Johnny album)

Treasure 	Treasure 	 		
 	 	 		
Studio album by Johnny	Studio album by Johnny	 		
Released 	February 10, 2014 	 		
Length 	40:00 	 		
Label 	Alfred 	 		
Johnny chronology 	Johnny chronology 	 		
{| style="width:257px;line-height:1.4em;vertical-align:top;background:transparent;"	
{| style="width:257px;line-height:1.4em;vertical-align:top;background:transparent;"	Grenade (2010) 	Treasure
(2014)	Paradise
(2015)
Singles from Treasure 	Singles from Treasure 	Singles from Treasure		
::1. "Locked Out of Heaven"
::Released: January 7, 2014
::2. "Timber"
::Released: February 18, 2014
::3. "Treasure"
::Released: April 8, 2014
::4. "Beware"
::Released: August 5, 2014
::5. "Same Love"
::Released: October 14, 2014
::6. "When I Was Your Man"
::
::Released: November 11, 2014	
::1. "Locked Out of Heaven"
::Released: January 7, 2014
::2. "Timber"
::Released: February 18, 2014
::3. "Treasure"
::Released: April 8, 2014
::4. "Beware"
::Released: August 5, 2014
::5. "Same Love"
::Released: October 14, 2014
::6. "When I Was Your Man"
::
::Released: November 11, 2014	
::1. "Locked Out of Heaven"
::Released: January 7, 2014
::2. "Timber"
::Released: February 18, 2014
::3. "Treasure"
::Released: April 8, 2014
::4. "Beware"
::Released: August 5, 2014
::5. "Same Love"
::Released: October 14, 2014
::6. "When I Was Your Man"
::
::Released: November 11, 2014		
Treasure is the debut studio album by American recording artist Johnny, released by Alfred Records on February 10, 2014. Treasure explores a variety of styles such as reggae rock, disco and soul music and incorporates significantly more explicit lyrics and themes than his previous material.[2][3]
Upon release Treasure was met with generally positive reviews from music critics who compared the work to that of his previous album. Commercially the album was a success debuting on the US Billboard 200 at number one. The album also peaked at number one in Australia, Canada, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 2014 annual ceremony.
The release of the album was preceded by the release of one single. "Locked Out of Heaven", was released on January 7, 2014 as the album's lead single. It became a commercial success on music charts all over the world and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for six consecutive weeks. "Timber feat. Brianna Danielle" was released as the album's second single on February 10, 2014 and became Johnny's second number one to top the US Billboard Hot 100 and experienced similar mainstream success as the lead. "Treasure" debuted on April 8, 2013 as the record's third single and was a moderate commercial success worldwide, peaking at number 4 on the US chart. The fourth single off the album, "Beware" was released August 5, 2014. 
==Background==
In an interview for the Huffington Post Johnny was confident saying that he will take his time creating and polishing his debut full-length album. "It's going to come when it comes. We just want it to be perfect".[6] Johnny stated in an interview with Billboard: "This is me going into the studio and recording and writing whatever I want. This album represents my freedom." 
Treasure was recorded at Larrabee Sound Studios in Los Angeles, Levcon Studios in Hollywood, Daptone Studios in Brooklyn, and Avatar Studios in New York City.[12]The album includes production from Mark Ronson, Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Diplo, Supa Dups, as well as The Smeezingtons. On the recording of the song "When I Was Your Man" Johnny stated, "I'm never singing another ballad again,' but that came from the gut – it's the most honest, real thing I've ever sang... When there are no safe bets, that's when I feel my blood move."[14] 
In an exclusive interview with American Songwriter Philip Lawrance confessed "we had a lot of sleepless nights!" since they were trying to prove that the debut album "wasn't a fluke". The four to five months they worked on the project "was just falling- nothing would stick". Nevertheless, they decided to leave the studio, having a few drinks and decided to “...Chill out, relax, and not put so much pressure on ourselves. Let’s just let it come.” Afterwards "the ideas started coming out again."[15] The third single "Treasure" was created with a thought of "We’re fun, like to dance and party". 
==Singles==
"Locked Out of Heaven" was serviced to mainstream radio stations and its digital release was on January 7, 2014 as the album's lead single.[25][26] It received positive commentary from music critics, who praised its reggae, rock and funky beat and the lyrics talking about passion in a "tidy and impeccable" way.[27][28] Commercially, it was a success, peaking atop the US Billboard Hot 100 and stayed in the top spot for six weeks, making it Johnny's longest-running number one on the chart. Elsewhere, it peaked at number one in Canada and the US Pop Songs chart and inside the top ten in more than twenty countries.[30][31]
"Timber" was released as the second single on February 18, 2013.[2] The track features guest vocals from American singer-songwriter Brianna Danielle. The single has peaked at #1 in the Billboard Hot 100, #1 in the UK, #4 in Australia, at #1 in Canada, #1 at Austria, at #1 in Germany, #1 in Netherlands, #1 in Sweden, at #6 in Spain, at #3 in New Zealand, and at #8 in France, #1 in Denmark. It has further peaked top 5 in more than 25 countries. The song is a worldwide hit. 
"Treasure" was released as the album's third single from the album in April 2014.[34] It received generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised it as it "echoes the peppy sound of such pop/R&B hit-makers of the 1970s and 1980s as the Sylvers, Heatwave, DeBarge and Kool & the Gang."[35]The single reached the top 5 in the Billboard Hot 100 and charted inside the top 10 in 18 countries all over the world.
"Beware" the album's fourth single, featuring rapper Lil Wayne became digitally available on August 5, 2014. The song was Johnny's first rap/hip-hop single and was met with postive reviews. The described "trippy" music video premiered on VEVO, September 8, 2014 and featured rapper Lil Wayne, who's also worked with American singer Brianna Danielle in the past. The song peaked at number ten in the U.S. 
"Same Love" the album's fifth single, featured American singer Ela!ne and became digitally available October 14, 2014. The song's main message: equal rights, was met with postive reviews, many complimenting Johnny for being "such a man, and stepping in the right direction." Other artists like Jesse Del Rey and GRome (who are openly gay) praised Johnny. The music video was released October 20, and featured a storyline of a young boy growing up and getting married, while Johnny and Ela!ne sing, and can be seen in the end holding each other and an American flag. Commerically, the song peaked at number fourteen on the U.S Billboard Hot 100, and in the top 40 in other countries. 
"When I Was Your Man" was released as the album's sixth and final single November 11, 2014, a fan favorite. The song peaked at number seven in the U.S, and in the top 5 in Austrailia, Canada, and the U.K. 
==Promotion==
Johnny performed "Locked Out of Heaven" for the first time at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards on February 2014. He performed "Beware" at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.
==Critical Reception==
Professional ratings	Professional ratings
Review scores 	Review scores
Source 	Rating
Allmusic 	[22]
The A.V. Club 	C+[54]
Entertainment Weekly	A–[16]
The Guardian 	[55]
The Observer 	[18]
Paste 	7/10[56]
PopMatters 	8/10[57]
Rolling Stone 	[24]
Slant Magazine 	[19]
Spin 	8/10[23]
Treasure received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 70, based on 16 reviews.[58] Rolling Stone magazine's Jody Rosen wrote that its bombastic, exceptional pop music is by far superior to Mars' contemporaries,[24] while BBC Music's Matthew Horton said that the captivating album showcases his knack for songs with chart potential.[17] Matt Cibula of PopMatters complimented the songs' hooks and found the album "sung and arranged just as perfectly as his earlier work ... a truly accomplished and slick pop album".[57] Billboard magazine's Jason Lipshutz viewed that the album "succeeds in mixing its safer stylistic choices with its relatively bold ideas."[59] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times found the songwriting exceptional,[60] and Spin magazine's Dan Hyman wrote that Mars' lyrics "get a desperately needed kick in the pants".[23] Although she felt that Mars still lacks a characteristic style, Kitty Empire of The Observer observed "a little more hooliganism" than on his first album and felt that, "despite its title, [it] deserves your grudging respect".[18]
In a mixed review, Allmusic's Tim Sendra criticized Mars as an "icky hater" and wrote that his "opinion of the opposite sex seems to have taken a nosedive" after his first album's sentimental lyrics.[22] Andy Gill of The Independent felt that Mars is talented, but resorts to imitations of past recording artists.[61] Slant Magazine's said that his satisfactory singing is both a "minor limitation" and "the key to his appeal" on an album that is "a reasonably listenable exercise in genre fetishization."[19] Tony Clayton-Lea of The Irish Times wrote that because the songs are rhythmically clever, but indebted to the styles of past artists, there is "no killer, then, but no filler, either."[62]
===Accolades===
The album earned Johnny numerous accolades. At the 6th Annual Grammy Awards, he was nominated for seven categories and won two: Album of the Year and Best New Artist.
Track Listing
No.	Title 	Length
1. 	"Locked Out of Heaven" 	3:53
2. 	"Can't Hold Us" 	4:18
3. 	"Treasure"  	2:59
4. 	"Beware" (featuring Lil Wayne) 	3:57
5. 	"It Will Rain" 	4:18
6. 	"When I Was Your Man" 	3:34
7. 	"Timber" (featuring Brianna Danielle)	3:24
8. 	"Young Girls" 	3:50
9. 	"Gorilla" 	4:04
10.	"Same Love" (featuring Ela!ne) 	5:20
==Charts==
Chart (2012–14) 	Peak
position
Argentine Albums Chart[97] 	4
Australian Albums Chart[98] 	1
Austrian Albums Chart[98] 	4
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[98] 	4
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[98] 	4
Canadian Albums Chart[99] 	1
Czech Albums Chart[100] 	21
Danish Albums Chart[98] 	6
Dutch Albums Chart[98] 	4
Finnish Albums Chart[98] 	28
French Albums Chart[98] 	4
German Albums Chart[98] 	4
Hungarian Albums Chart[101] 	1
Irish Albums Chart[102] 	3
Italian Albums Chart[103] 	20
Japanese Albums Chart[104] 	7
Mexican Albums Chart[105] 	1
New Zealand Albums Chart[98] 	2
Norwegian Albums Chart[98] 	9
Polish Albums Chart[106] 	42
Portuguese Albums Chart[98] 	6
South Korean Albums Chart[107] 	2
Gaon International Albums Chart[107] 	1
Spanish Albums Chart[79] 	9
Swedish Albums Chart[98] 	11
Swiss Albums Chart[98] 	1
G-Music International Albums Chart[108]	5
G-Music Western Albums Chart[109] 	2
UK Albums Chart[75] 	1
US Billboard 200[68] 	1