Album review: Four
By One Direction
Distributed by Columbia Records and Syco Music
It’s been a year since One Direction released their last album Midnight Memories, and they’re back and in some ways better than they’ve ever been with their latest release, Four.
Disregarding the title’s lack of originality, the album itself is unlike anything the five-piece has ever created.
It’s obvious the boyband is trying to shed their bubblegum pop roots. Comparing their sound with 2011’s Up All Night or 2012’s Take Me Home, it’s hard to believe Four is from the same group. It’s obvious the members of One Direction have matured, and with this newfound maturity is a shift in sound that had been hinted on Midnight Memories.
Like on Midnight Memories, the five boys take more control over the lyrics. At least one of them has a writing credit on nearly every song. Vocally, they’ve all grown in leaps and bounds, with Zayn Malik’s vocal acrobatics often stealing the show.
As a whole, Four sounds a lot more cohesive as an album. One of the flaws of their last release had been the almost jarring shifts in genre from song to song, but they’ve solved that problem on Four and the album’s 12 tracks (16 on the deluxe edition) flow together beautifully.
Though every song on the album has its charms, there are certainly a few standouts. “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” is definitely the most anthemic song on the album and it’s easy to imagine it reverberating in stadiums.
“18” is definitely the best ballad. Penned by Ed Sheeran, it packs an emotional punch, and Louis Tomlinson’s vulnerable vocals in the bridge really do it wonders. “Fool’s Gold,” another ballad, shines in its own right as well.
One Direction’s strength has always been upbeat songs, and it’s no wonder other upbeat tracks like “Ready to Run,” “No Control,” “Girl Almighty,” and the provocative “Stockholm Syndrome” are the most memorable on the album.
The album’s second single “Night Changes” is another slower song, but Harry Styles’ crooning on the chorus, and the group’s stellar harmonizing turns what could have been a bland song into something sweet.
There aren’t any truly terrible songs on the album, but the choice of “Steal My Girl” as the first single is questionable considering it doesn’t come close to being the best track, but it is the closest they come to their bubblegum pop origins which makes it a good transition from the old 1D to the new.
