Nov. 25 marks the day One Direction dropped its newest album, Midnight Memories, and also the day that a boy band turned into a MAN band.
Midnight Memories has been crushing all sorts of records in its first week of release, including the most albums sold in 24 hours for 2013. The new CD is the band’s third, and best yet.
The Anglo-Irish band consisting of Niall Horan (20), Harry Styles (19), Louis Tomlinson (21), Zayn Malik (20), and Liam Payne (20), has been one of the hottest topics in American pop culture since the release of its first single, “What Makes You Beautiful” in early 2012. When comparing this first song to ANY tracks on the new album, they sound almost completely different! It’s like yesterday’s teenagers have been replaced by strong young men with vocal talent through the roof. Their last album, Take Me Home, not only upheld a 131 show world tour, peaked at No. 1 in more than 35 countries, but also blew their first album Up All Night, completely out of the water. Sounds impressive, right? Like they couldn’t possibly top BOTH record-breaking albums. But suprisingly enough, they did!
When comparing Take Me Home to Midnight Memories, you can sense an absolute change in the maturity of the lyrics and the strength behind the vocals. Unlike Up All Night and Take Me Home, each and every song was written or co-written by one or more member of the band, and if that doesn’t show growth, I don’t know what does. Louis Tomlinson, the oldest by age and youngest by heart in the band, had the most influence in the writing process, and his lyrics are extremely strong and I might add, deep. One song written on the album by Tomlison and a few other non-band-members is called “Strong,” and it’s pure lyrical gold. “My hands, your hands Tied up like two ships Drifting, weightless Waves trying to break it I’d do anything to save it Why is it so hard to say it?” are the words sung only at the introduction of the song leading into a truly beautiful and upbeat love ballad.
The most change you can see in One Direction with the new album is the sound and the style. The first two albums are listed under pop, just solid Pop, but this new one has made the categorical jump into Pop Rock. The absolutely “Rock” songs include “Midnight Memories,” “Alive,” and “Little Black Dress.” That may not seem like a huge difference (Pop to Pop Rock) but trust me, it is. I might even have to say that some songs are folk rock, even indie sounding. At the beginning of the track “Through The Dark,” I had to make sure I wasn’t accidentally playing Mumford and Sons.
All the songs are great, and I can honestly say that there’s not one I just don’t like. It’s also hard for me to pick one that’s my absolute favorite, and as of now, I don’t have one. I find myself listening to the songs “Better Than Words,” “Little White Lies” and “Something Great” very often; they’re incredible songs.
On the whole, Midnight Memories is a more than amazing album. It’s massive. It’s incredible. One of the best albums I’ve ever heard. (And I’m not just saying that because I’m a fan.) The vocals are incredibly strong and at some points breath- taking. Zayn’s high note in “You & I” is in fact so high that if I tried to hit it, I’d probably sound like a dying cat, but incredibly he pulls it off quite well. The lyrics are so deep and meaningful, especially when they are in fact written by the boys, it really just adds to the package. Midnight Memories is more personal for the band and their fans, it’s a very nice change from the standard carbon copy songs from the first and some of the second album. There are so many great things about this record that I could go on and on, but I wouldn’t want to bore you. (This album won’t though, I promise.) Congratulations to One Direction, for another groundbreaking album, it’s the best yet!
