One Direction
Made In The A.M. (Sony Music)
Breakdown: Another November, another One Direction album. The group have had a rocky year. Not only did band member Zayn Malik exit the group but the band decided that they’re taking a well-deserved hiatus after the release of their new album ‘Made In The A.M.’ However, the extreme schedule and losing one of their lead vocalists didn’t stop the boys. The new album features the smash hits ‘Drag Me Down’ and ‘Perfect’ and proves that the band still has what it takes to be the biggest band in pop music today.
How Many Good Tracks: 9 of the 13.
What I Liked: This album is a huge improvement. The band’s previous albums ‘Four’ and ‘Midnight Memories’ had the hits but overall, the songs weren’t anything but cheesy generic pop tracks, to me. On this album, however, the songs tend to have a bit more meaning and a lot more effort. The album’s lead single ‘Drag Me Down’ is the best single the boys have put out in years and the album’s overall quality is far more superior than their previous material. It might sound crazy but I don’t miss Zayn at all. Sure, his voice has always been a standout but the boys did a pretty good job without him. The album has more than enough single-worthy tracks and vocally, this could be the band’s best album to date. There is a bit of growth on this record lyrically, something we haven’t seen from the band in some time and each member has added their own flavour to this record.
What I Didn’t Like: One Direction are a money-making pop machine. The group feels so processed and their music has become so predictable. That being said, this is a huge step in the right direction for the boys. Hopefully this hiatus will encourage the boys to step out of their comfort zone on the next album.
Best Track: What A Feeling
Rating: 3.5/5
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