Pentatonix (album) explained

Pentatonix
Type:	studio
Artist:	Pentatonix
Cover:	Pentatonix (album).png
Border:	yes
Released:	October 16, 2015
Recorded:	2015
Length:	41:55
Label:	RCA
Prev Title:	That's Christmas to Me
Prev Year:	2014
Next Title:	A Pentatonix Christmas
Next Year:	2016

Pentatonix is the fourth studio album by American a cappella group Pentatonix, which was released on October 16, 2015.^[1]

The release date was announced on Twitter by a series of pictures featuring the five band members released over a five-day-span, with one band member added to the picture each day, culminating in the date being revealed on August 28.^[1] It is the group's seventh release overall in their discography.^[2]

This is the first release of the band to feature predominantly original material (the only covers being the cover of Shai's "If I Ever Fall in Love" and the bonus tracks on the deluxe version of the album). Pentatonix also marks the first time band members receive individual songwriting credits for the majority of the tracks.

Pentatonix debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart with 98,000 album-equivalent units, with the album being their first No. 1 album on the chart.

Critical reception

The album received mostly positive reviews from critics. Matt Collar of AllMusic wrote, "Ultimately, by moving away from cover tunes, Pentatonix have helped push the a cappella style even further into the pop spotlight. That the only instruments they've used to do it are their voices makes their achievement all the more impressive."^[3]

In an online review, Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone gave the album a 2.5 out of 5 star review, criticizing the lyrics and saying that the album "lacks any oomph to go with their well-honed chops."^[4]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 8 in New Zealand and number 1 on the US Billboard 200.^[5] In the US, the album started with 98,000 album-equivalent units (88,000 in pure album sales).^[5]

Personnel

Pentatonix

• Scott Hoying  - baritone lead and backing vocals
• Mitch Grassi  - tenor^[6] lead and backing vocals
• Kirstin Maldonado  - alto lead and backing vocals
• Avi Kaplan  - vocal bass, bass lead and backing vocals
• Kevin Olusola  - vocal percussion, beatboxing, backing vocals, rapping

Additional personnel

• Pentatonix, Thaddus "Kuk" Harrell, Martin Johnson, Ed Boyer, Drew Pearson, Ben Bram  - production
• Jason Derulo  - vocals on "If I Ever Fall in Love"
• Tink  - vocals on "Can't Sleep Love"
• Members of A Cappella Academy Retreat as background vocals on "Misbehavin'", "New Year's Day", and "To the River"
• Members of recording studio as background vocals on "Lean On"

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2015)	Position
US Billboard 200^[8]	190
Chart (2016)	Position
US Billboard 200^[9]	103

Notes and References

1. Web site:
   1. NEWALBUM 10.16.15
   . twitter.com/PTXofficial. Pentatonix. August 28, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160202214343/https://twitter.com/PTXofficial/status/637298736113123328. 2016-02-02. live.
2. Web site: Kaplan. Avi. Avi Kaplan on Facebook - "In the studio for this new all original album for Pentatonix!". Facebook.com/AviKaplanMusic. Avi Kaplan. August 28, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150520022456/https://www.facebook.com/avikaplanmusic/posts/884352214944418. May 20, 2015 .
3. Web site: Collar. Matt. Pentatonix. AllMusic.com. October 22, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151018224753/http://www.allmusic.com/album/pentatonix-mw0002878652. 2015-10-18. live.
4. Spanos . Brittany . Brittany Spanos . October 16, 2015 . Pentatonix . March 31, 2022 . Rolling Stone.
5. Web site: Keith Caulfield . Pentatonix Scores First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart . Billboard . 2015-10-26 . 2016-03-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070751/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6738540/pentatonix-first-no-1-album-billboard-200-chart . 2016-03-04 . live .
6. Web site: Jones. Darianna. Bold & Sugar Interviews Mitch Grassi of Pentatonix: "Don't Be Afraid to Be Different". BoldAndSugar.com. Bold and Sugar. January 24, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140825082323/http://boldandsugar.com/bold-sugar-interviews-mitch-grassi-of-pentatonix-dont-be-afraid-to-be-different/. August 25, 2014.
7. Web site: 第43 週 統計時間：2015/10/16 - 2015/10/22. Chinese. Five-Music. https://web.archive.org/web/20161224044747/http://www.5music.com.tw/CDTop.asp?top=6. 2016-12-24. October 22, 2015. live.
8. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2015. Billboard. December 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20151211210130/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/top-billboard-200-albums. 2015-12-11. live.
9. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016. Billboard. December 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20161208120131/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-billboard-200-albums. 2016-12-08. live.