Album- Take Me Home
Artist- One Direction
One Direction were the pop juggernauts of 2012, and this
album secured them a place in music history. But are One Direction really worth
all the success that they have? I take a listen to their album and analyse if
that is a yes to that question:
Track 1- Live While
We’re Young
The frothy, poppy opener to the album is a jump up and down
number that is very throwaway pop. And whilst high energy, it feels like a
little bit of a rehash of What Makes You Beautiful, so isn’t as good as some of
their other songs.
3/5
Track 2- Kiss You
The main collaborators with One Direction, Rami Yacoub and
Carl Falk, have described the making of the tracks as making vanilla music.
This is definitely one of the most vanilla songs on the album, but it is also
one of the best. Like the former track it is light, frothy and fun, but this
one seems to be more structurally and vocally secure, with the contrast of the
fast paced verses and simple, powerful chorus providing a great energy to the
track. And the chorus is one that can easily get stuck in your head. A great
track.
4/5
Track 3- Little
Things
This simple acoustic ballad presents a softer side of One
Direction and is easily catered towards all their female fans who wish they
were there girlfriend. The Ed Sheeran penned song is lyrically simple and
effective, conjuring up a true sense of love. And the vocal harmonies of the
group are tight, whilst individual voices are showcased well. The only downside
for me was that this very much felt like an Ed Sheeran song sung by One
Direction, rather than a One Direction song, albeit a slightly more pop edge is
observed.
3.5/5
Track 4- C’mon C’mon
The thumping bass beat of this track is a nice transition of
pace from the previous track. Lyrically it is not that interesting, but the
production of the track gives a power to the message, and the verses and chorus
contrast well with each other. A song you can easily skip or easily indulge in.
2.5/5
Track 5- Last First
Kiss
The acoustic setting of the verses of this track give a
great sense of power to the chorus, with this power also being aided by the use
of a simple, continual and harsh drumbeat. The first song which lyrically the
band helper with , it is suited well to their pop sensibilities, and a sense of
vulnerability can be observed through the arrangement of the song as well as
vocally. The oohs within the chorus also add a nice flourish to the song.
3.5/5
Track 6- Heart Attack
This is another fun and silly pop song that isn’t ground-breaking
in the slightest. And in a way it loses some of its spark by being a little bit
too similar to previous tracks on the album. It is still a good song, they
could just do better, although little flourishes like the ow in the chorus give
a nice touch to the song.
3/5
Track 7- Rock Me
This Lukasz Gottwald produced track is great in that
production wise it presents a different sound from the pop rocky stuff of the
previous songs (ironic when the song is called Rock Me). The production gives a
sense of Queens We Are The Champions to the song, although that is not to say
that this song is in the same league as that song. The repetition of the songs
title is a little annoying, and the vocals could be better, but kudos to the
band for producing something a bit sonically different, even if lyrically it is
just the same.
3/5
Track 8- Change My
Mind
With this track we find One Direction in acoustic mode
again. And its nice in that it’s a little bit of a pace changer and gives them
a sense of vulnerability. However, the chorus isn’t as powerful as previous tracks,
and whilst vocally they are on point, it lacks a sense of proper emotional
depth, although the boys give this a damn good try. Yet the song is good in
that it builds well, with the final chorus actually showing that they aren’t always
a boy band fluffy piece.
3/5
Track 9- I Would
Helmed by fellow boybanders Mcfly, this is just another One
Direction track lyrically and does feel like a bit of a McFly cast off, which
Mcfly have been accused of. However, yet again that band are saved a little bit
by some good, crowd pleasing production, with the drumbeats and guitar
strumming intro giving a fast paced intensity to the song. The whistling within
the second verse is also a nice touch, although a bit too predictable in an era
where whistling features in quite a few songs (e.g. Moves Like Jagger anyone).
2.5/5
Track 10- Over Again
This just sounds too similar to the other acoustic, down
tempo numbers on the record it made me really annoyed. But what’s worse in that
it actually feels blander than those other tracks, as if the band isn’t actually
invested in it. The only thing I noticed was that you can here there accents. And
if that’s what I was paying attention to, then this is not a good song.
0.5/5
Track 11- Back For
You
Al I can say about this song is that one direction need to
stop making songs that sound so similar to each other and start adding some diversity
to their records, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1/5
Track 12- They Don’t Know
About Us
The piano introduction is a nice twist, but then the song
just falls into the same territory, with the band yet again being saved by some
good production value. And I just find myself asking why at this point. Cause
they can sing, and they must have some good music taste, I mean there is five
of them!!!!!!
1/5
Track 13- Summer Love
The idea of summer love is a nice sentiment that makes this
track quite enjoyable, even if it’s just another song that again sounds
similar. Vocals also good, so track not as bad as some of the others.
2/5
Final Review
It’s easy to see why millions of girls all over the world
love One Direction: they are primarily catered for that demographic. But from a
critical point of view, whilst the band does produce some great pure pop songs,
they need to create a more diverse sound that doesn’t make you want to switch
off the album half way through because the rest is just the same and sounds like
it should be B side material in that respect. So I say to One Direction- next
time don’t rush between albums and cultivate your art to get the best out of
yourselves, because you are good.
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