While(1 Is Less Than 2)

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The correct title of this article is While(1<2). It appears incorrectly here due to technical restrictions.
While(1<2)
Studio album by
Deadmau5
ReleasedJune 17, 2014
Recorded2006–2014
Genre
Length130:53 (mixed)
139:17 (unmixed)
Label
ProducerJoel Zimmerman
Deadmau5 chronology
Album Title Goes Here
(2012) 		While(1<2)
(2014) 		5 Years of Mau5
(2014)
Deadmau5 studio album chronology
Album Title Goes Here
(2012) 		While(1<2)
(2014) 		W:/2016Album/
(2016)
Singles from While(1<2)
  1. "Avaritia"
    Released: 20 May 2014
  2. "Seeya"
    Released: 27 May 2014
  3. "Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer"
    Released: 3 June 2014
  4. "Phantoms Can't Hang"
    Released: 10 June 2014

While(1<2) (stylized in all lowercase; pronounced "while one is less than two") is the seventh studio album by Canadian electronic music producer Deadmau5, released on June 17, 2014 by Mau5trap, Virgin EMI and Astralwerks, his only album to be released by the latter.

The album is a notable departure from the bass-heavy, upbeat template of his previous work, instead foraying in a more experimental direction, with tones of downtempo and ambient music. Many of the songs on the album were originally uploaded to Deadmau5's SoundCloud account before they were removed from the site in early 2014.[1]

The album received a positive reception from critics, who applauded its experimental nature, although some viewed this as its weak point. It peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200, becoming his second top-ten album.

Background

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On January 7, 2014, Deadmau5 announced on Twitter that his seventh album was completed. He also announced that it was a double album containing a continuous mix for each disc and that the album as a whole, minus the mixes, would contain 25 tracks.[2] On May 10, 2014, While(1<2) was officially unveiled by Deadmau5 through his subscription service, and also announced the album's digital release date of June 17, 2014 with a physical release on June 24.[3]

The title is a piece of code, which would always evaluate to true (as 1 is always less than 2); thus, as "deadmau5" happens "while 1 is less than 2", the album is supposed to be infinitely persisting.

Singles

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The first single "Avaritia" became available for purchase on May 20, 2014.[4] One week later, the second single "Seeya", featuring singer Colleen D'Agostino from the band The Material, was made available for purchase on iTunes.[5] On 2 June 2014, the third single "Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer" premiered on mau5trap's SoundCloud page. It was made available for download on iTunes and Beatport the next day.[6][7] The album's fourth and final single, "Phantoms Can't Hang", was also premiered through SoundCloud the day before its release on iTunes and Beatport which was on 10 June 2014.[8][9]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic66/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Billboard[12]
Consequence of SoundB[13]
Los Angeles Times[14]
The National[15]
Q[16]
Rolling Stone[17]
Slant Magazine[18]
Spin8/10[19]

While(1<2) received favorable reviews from critics. It currently holds a score of 66 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[10] Billboard gave the album 4.5/5 stars stating "Sprawling, ambitious and mostly well-executed, "While(1<2) may confuse his fan base's Ultra-attending electro house contingent, but Deadmau5's double album undoubtedly marks his most mature and forward-thinking release to date".[12] AllMusic also reviewed positively expressing "While(1<2) is a very good, very restrained, and very inspired Deadmau5 effort. It is a welcome space-walk surprise, recommended for all aspiring EDM astronauts and Ghost in the Shell cast members", with a score of 3.5/5 stars.[11]

Rolling Stone was more critical of the album, stating "Deadmau5 has turned from an electro-house polymath into the world's most unnecessary Nine Inch Nails tribute act", giving it 2 stars out of 5.[17] Slant Magazine was equally critical saying "Deadmau5 enters the fray with the advantage of deeply diminished expectations. His latest, While(1<2), comfortably clears the bar set by his contemporaries, and that would be impressive if the bar wasn't buried underground", also awarding it 2 stars.[18]

Track listing

[edit]
Disc 1 (unmixed)
No.TitleLength
1."Avaritia"6:42
2."Coelacanth I"2:46
3."Ice Age" (deadmau5 Remix) (by How to Destroy Angels)6:51
4."My Pet Coelacanth"8:15
5."Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer"9:36
6."Terrors in My Head"8:37
7."Creep"5:37
8."Somewhere Up Here"5:10
9."Phantoms Can't Hang"9:15
10."Gula"6:56
Total length:69:46
Disc 2 (unmixed)
No.TitleLength
1."Acedia"6:25
2."Invidia"3:16
3."Errors in My Bread"5:17
4."Survivalism" (deadmau5 Remix) (by Nine Inch Nails)3:37
5."Silent Picture"3:38
6."Rlyehs Lament"4:48
7."Superbia"2:14
8."Mercedes"9:38
9."Bleed"4:00
10."Ira"2:38
11."Monday"3:45
12."A Moment to Myself"3:28
13."Pets"7:31
14."Coelacanth II"2:36
15."Seeya" (featuring Colleen D'Agostino)6:40
Total length:69:31
Disc 2 bonus track
No.TitleLength
16."Petting Zoo"7:31
Total length:77:02
Digital bonus tracks (mixed)
No.TitleLength
1."while(1<2) [disc 1]"1:07:12
2."while(1<2) [disc 2]"1:03:41
Total length:2:10:53

Note

  • Some physical copies of the album, including the vinyl version, feature the full version of "Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer", which is 10:36. The promotional single for the song also features this full version.

Charts

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Release history

[edit]
Release history for While(1<2)
Region Date Format Label
Various 17 June 2014[40] Digital download Mau5trap, Astralwerks, Virgin
24 June 2014[40] CD
July 2014[41] Vinyl

References

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  1. ^ Tregoning, Jack (January 12, 2014). "Deadmau5 deletes his SoundCloud after 33 million plays". inthemix. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014.
  2. ^ Tregoning, Jack (January 7, 2014). "In other Deadmau5 news, his two-disc, epic-length album is done". inthemix. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  3. ^ Meadow, Matthew. "Update: Deadmau5 Announces Album Title And Release Date". Your EDM. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  4. ^ "Avaritia". Amazon.com. Retrieved June 10, 2016 – via Amazon.
  5. ^ "Dead Mow Cinco". Twitter.com. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  6. ^ "Hear Deadmau5's Odyssey 'Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer' – Premiere". Rolling Stone. June 2, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  7. ^ "Deadmau5 New Releases: Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer on Beatport". Beatport.com. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  8. ^ "Listen: Deadmau5 Reveals New 9-Minute Epic, 'Phantoms Can't Hang'". Radio.com. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  9. ^ "Deadmau5 New Releases: Phantoms Can't Hang on Beatport". Beatport.com. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "While(1<2) by Deadmau5". Metacritic. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Jeffries, David. "Deadmau5: While(1<2) Review". AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  12. ^ a b Medved, Matt (June 17, 2014). "deadmau5, 'while(1<2)': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  13. ^ Staples, Derek (June 23, 2014). "deadmau5 – while(1<2)". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  14. ^ Brown, August (June 17, 2014). "Tiesto and Deadmau5 make full albums, stretch attention spans". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  15. ^ Bouyamourn, Adam (July 7, 2014). "Album review: Deadmau5 – While (1<2)". The National. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  16. ^ Q. July 2, 2014. August 2014 edition, p. 114.
  17. ^ a b R. Weingarten, Christopher (June 17, 2014). "Deadmau5 White (1<2) Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  18. ^ a b Sullivan, Blue (June 21, 2014). "deadmau5: white (1 < 2)". Slant Magazine. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  19. ^ Kamps, Garrett (June 22, 2014). "Deadmau5 Disrupts EDM With the Sprawling, Awesome 'While (1<2)'". Spin. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  20. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Deadmau5 – While (1%3C2)". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  21. ^ "ARIA Dance – Week Commencing 23rd June 2014" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014 – via Pandora Archive.
  22. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Deadmau5 – While (1%3C2)" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  23. ^ "Ultratop.be – Deadmau5 – While (1%3C2)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  24. ^ "Ultratop.be – Deadmau5 – While (1%3C2)" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  25. ^ "Deadmau5 Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  26. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Deadmau5 – While (1%3C2)". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  27. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Deadmau5 – While (1%3C2)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  28. ^ "Lescharts.com – Deadmau5 – While (1%3C2)". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  29. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Deadmau5 – While (1<2)" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  30. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Deadmau5". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  31. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Deadmau5 – While (1%3C2)". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  32. ^ "Charts.nz – Deadmau5 – While (1%3C2)". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  33. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  34. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Deadmau5 – While (1%3C2)". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  35. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  36. ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  37. ^ "Deadmau5 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  38. ^ "Deadmau5 Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  39. ^ "Dance/Electronic Albums: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  40. ^ a b "deadmau5 | News | while(1<2)". www.deadmau5.com. June 17, 2014.
  41. ^ "Dead Mow Cinco". Twitter.com. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
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