One Direction score
One Direction has firmly planted itself in screaming-pre-teen radio-pop territory, and the slightest mention of the group is sure to bring eye-rolls and snarky comments from those outside of the die-hard fan base. And while breaking out of that category might be an impossible task, the band’s latest album, Made in the A.M., is surely a leap toward something good.
The release represents a change of pace for the band, especially as its first album without Zayn Malik. Made in the A.M. is almost evenly spit between the big, upbeat pop hits that made One Direction famous and acoustic ballads that sound almost as if the band wants to be coffeehouse music. It’s an interesting mix, to say the least, and one that suggests the band might be capable of something vastly different than what it’s previously produced.
The album starts with “Hey Angel,” by far the weakest, most generic song in the collection. But looking past the One-Direction-meets-teen-Disney-movie opener, the album is a fun listen, even if you’re someone who would only click 1D on Spotify in a private session.
“Drag Me Down” is undeniably a pop hit, but as the first verse crescendos into the chorus, the energy builds. It’s a feel-good song with claps that keep it fast-paced and motivating while rocky drums flesh it out. “Perfect” continues the pop sequence. The track is a little more light-hearted and almost reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s music. “If you like causing trouble up in hotel rooms/ And if you like having secret little rendezvous/ If you like to do the things you know that we shouldn’t do/ Baby, I’m perfect” they croon. Echoing “Blank Space,” the bridge reveals a darker side: “And if you like cameras flashing every time we go out/ And if you’re looking for someone to write your breakup songs about/ Baby, I’m perfect.”
Gradually, the album slows down. “End of the Day” combines melodic verses with a booming chorus that doesn’t quite mesh, but the cute lyrics trigger classic boy-band swooning: “20 minutes later, wound up in the hospital/ The priest thinks it’s the Devil, my mum thinks it’s the flu/ But, girl, it’s only you.”
Buried at number six in the 13-track standard album, “If I Could Fly” finally shows a real change in style. With a slow piano melody and heartfelt lyrics, it could easily be a John Legend ballad. The several tracks that follow feature the same slow, reflective sound that one could easily imagine as John Mayer’s latest hit playing in a quiet cafe.
Besides the typical pop hits and the Jason Mraz rip-offs, there’s a whole other set of songs that fall somewhere in the middle. “Olivia,” “History” and “Never Enough” feature catchy, sing-along choruses, and while the clappy acoustic guitar is not unique, it’s refreshing to hear from One Direction. “History” is perhaps the best song on the album based on sheer spunk. It’s hard not to smile and nod along.
The influences are so vast on Made in the A.M. that it’s hard to capture them all. “What a Feeling” has an extrapolated ’80s sound, while punk rock drums drive “Temporary Fix,” which is featured in the deluxe album. And Jack White easily could have written “I Want to Write You a Song.”
The band’s evolution is impressive. Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne aren’t just overgrown teenagers forever making cheap, grating radio hits. Made in the A.M. proves that they’re musicians with a potential far greater than what they’ve been given credit for. The new sound has the potential to take them far; plus, it’s just plain enjoyable. There’s no telling where the band will go from here, but it’s definitely moving in … well, I think you can guess.
