Album- Midnight
Memories
Artist- One Direction
Out of all the acts that have ever come out of the UK X
Factor, One Direction are probably always going to be highlighted as the most
successful to really make it in the music industry. Becoming a worldwide
phenomenon with a 3D movie and millions of 1D merchandise, the group have truly
had a meteoric rise to fame, and this rise is now emphasised with the release
of the group’s third studio album in as many years. But is Midnight Memories a
good enough album to keep them going, or will the group’s magic be lost? And
does this album actually show any growth?
Track 1- Best Song
Ever
Opening track Best Song Ever acted as the theme song for the
groups 3D film This Is Us, and is primarily a fun pop number that is simply
designed to cater to their fan base. The song finds the boys singing of a fun
night in which they met this girl that just kind of took their breath away,
with the final consensus being that they danced all night to the best song ever.
The lyrics aren’t as sharp in the verses as they should be but on repeated
listens the chorus becomes stuck in your head quite easily, whilst vocally the
group are on good form in terms of imbuing their work with a lovely sense of
youthful charm. The smattering of synths, light guitar rhythms and frenzied
drum beats gives the track a light and get up and dance pop feel that is very
much signature One Direction, so whilst they may have some better songs out
already, Best Song Ever still is a good number, even if it doesn’t live up to
its title.
3.5/5
Track 2- Story of My
Life
The band has described this album as being ‘rockier’ than
their previous efforts, and this is really exhibited in the change from Best
Song Ever to Story of My Life. Here the pop rhythms are replaced by more
acoustically, folk driven guitar riffs that shows a nice bit of maturity of
sound from the group whilst not completely alienating previous fans. The song
focuses on the group reflecting on the past and looking at the things that mark
their lives, with the song having a touch of a romantic flavouring about it but
also being relatable to different kinds of love. The message is sweet and
memorable if not completely sellable from a group who are barely in their twenties,
but what the group lack in real maturity they make up for in the slightly
grittier in places and all-round stronger vocal performances that each member
gives, with Zayn Malik being a particular stand out in terms of the final
chorus.
3.5/5
Track 3- Diana
Continuing in a more rock vein but still holding onto some
pop flourishes, Diana is a stomping effort featuring a nice drum base and some soaring
guitars that will make this a strong number when the boys head out on their
stadium tour. The song focuses on the group telling this girl called Diana of
how they will be there for her because they hate to see her feeling in a bad
way and she has really helped them. The message is slightly cheesy but wrapped
around a solid chorus, and undoubtedly there will be many young girls
pretending that they are Diana, so the boys do a great job of catering to their
fan base. Vocally they are strong here with a bit more depth although some of
the youthful charm is a bit lacking which is a shame, and for me this song also
doesn’t quite feel like a group effort in the way the first two tracks did.
3.5/5
Track 4- Midnight
Memories
Title track Midnight Memories definitely shows a m ore roc
side of the group and emphasises the fact that they have a cool jet setting
life and are a group of young lads who work hard but also want to have fun and
act their age. The song is lyrically an anthem for the youth that reflects upon
the bands life but primarily focuses on the group trying to catch some girls
eyes and make some good life memories. The chorus is instantly catchy and sing
along ready and the way that the verses are faster and the chorus is very
stadium rock is fun and fresh. The songs composition is quite frenzied and at
times you could see this as two or three different songs put together, but it
all really works with the hand clapping ready guitar riffs of the chorus and
heavy bass making for a vibrant and impactful record. Vocally the group are
also great, having a great tone that brings out the charm and pizzaz of the
songs message, whilst the group once again show a little more depth and power
in their voices. In my eyes this should definitely be a future single.
3.5/5
Track 5- You and I
From the stadium sized fun of the last track we turn to
softer, more acoustically driven ballad territory with You and I, a love song
that lyrically focuses on the group reflecting on this relationship where they
come to the conclusion that this relationship will last and that they won’t be
like other couples in the world. The message is simple but maybe a bit too
soppy and definitely only caters towards the groups young girl fan, with too
many clichés being used. The vocals are nice but don’t have the impact that the
previous songs showed, whilst certain members seem to carry the song more than
others. The production of the song is really the only interesting and attention
capturing quality of the song, as the track features some nice guitar riffs
that almost give a country rock feel to the song, before the drums and heavier
guitar rhythms kick in too make the final sections of the song a little bit
more potent.
3/5
Track 6- Don’t Forget
Where You Belong
Opening with subdued guitar riffs and creating this almost
euphoric atmosphere, Don’t Forget Where You Belong is a soaring pop rock effort
that is very nice in terms of the track feeling like a very nice self-reflective
effort, as the lyrics focus on the group being in this state of travelling but
not forgetting their roots. The positivity of the track is nice and although
the chorus could be better and less clichéd, the group can be commended for
teaching their fans some good values. In terms of the vocals the group blend
better here and feel like one strong unit, although their voices don’t quite
make the song truly believable and have the weight that it should. The
production is ok with the drums and guitar blending to create an impactful
sound, but at this stage it feels like the groups sound is too easily
identifiable, and there is not enough for each song to stand out on its own.
2.5/5
Track 7- Strong
Strong is a nice effort in that the group don’t bombard you
with the message and there is lightness to the track that adds some relief at
this point in the record. The rumbling drumbeats and clattering guitar gives
the track a simple and airy tone that would make this a good soundtrack song to
a teenage love story kind of movie. The lyrics can be easily applied to a
romantic situation but are also applicable to different types of relationships,
making the song more appealing due to its ability to be relatable to a wide
range of people, as the group purely sing of telling this person of how great
they are in their life. With a simple, pure message that is effectively carried
out and some nice vocals that rise from lovely, subdued to impactful, I am
really declaring my love, this is another track that could maybe work as a future
single and which shows a bit of a different side to the band, even if it is a
little soppy and clichéd.
3.5/5
Track 8- Happily
With a jaunty guitar riff that kind of (or at least to me)
shows the groups positioning themselves as the new Beatles, Happily is one of
the more pop efforts on the set and is a simple love song that finds the group
telling their various loves of how their relationships are great and that they don’t
care what others say or think, as together they will just be happy. The song is
lyrically very catchy with some nice use of a pop ‘oh oh oh oh’ hook for the
bridge, whilst the groups joyful, youthful spirit is more prominently and
powerfully brought out with the vocal delivery of this song. The guitar riffs
and spacious energy of the songs production is more light pop territory with a
sprinkling of folk, and so this song works great for the fans of the group’s
previous material and reminding us of the sweet fun that can be hand in
listening to their music.
3.5/5
Track 9- Right Now
A mid tempo pop ballad, Right Now finds the group wishing
for their love to be there in the moment with them. The lyrics are sharp and accessible
with a definitive and catchy chorus, whilst the groups vocals are good if
perhaps a bit too obviously teenage boyish which doesn’t quite meld with some
of the other songs on the set. The songs production is nice enough with the
rolling drum beats and the subtle use of tambourine, but in a way the songs
production is very obvious for this kind of track and so some of the impact of
the song seeps away because of this.
3/5
Track 10- Little
Black Dress
When I first saw the title of this song I was intrigued,
because I thought it kind of strange that here you have a boy band singing
about what many would consider the staple piece of a womans wardrobe. But with
the song the group actually focus on the idea of a woman walking in wearing
such a dress and just exuding a sensual appeal that is captivating, whilst the
group tell this woman that they want to see the way that she moves for them.
The song is annoyingly catchy in a way because the lyrics feel slightly weird
but the use of repetition makes the lyrics get stuck in your head easily,
whilst the vocal delivery of the track sees the boys give us an infectious
charm that really carries the song, and we are given with this song another track
that is slightly better in showing us a group that feels really unified within
their music. Production wise the song is a bit more rock aggressive with the
punchy electric guitar riffs and the stomping drums, but there is still light
freshness about the track that simply positions the song as a slight 70’s rock
inspired piece that is also very modern.
3.5/5
Track 11- Through the
Dark
Opening with a guitar riff that is quite folk driven and
which makes the song feel very much like a Mumford and Sons like number,
Through the Dark is another sweet love song that finds the group wishing for
this girl to see the good and light within herself and stating that they will
be there for her. At this point the group’s lyrical message is unoriginal and self-plagiarising,
and therefore the songs appeal doesn’t quite grab you in the way that it
should. Keeping the vocals soft and a bit more lighter and understated makes
the song feel more sincere but at the same time doesn’t quite make it as catchy
as some of their other tracks, and with a production value that feels too
obviously relatable to music by other artists, this track is simply a
commendable number in that the group are trying something different, but it
just isn’t enough and should have not made the album.
2.5/5
Track 12- Something
Great
Folkier, Mumford and Sons inspired One Direction continues
with Something Great, another love song in which we find the group this time
singing of how they want this person to jump into life and a relationship with
them so that they dreams can come true. Once again it lacks a freshness
lyrically and is also weaker vocally because the slow delivery of lines just
makes it feel like the group aren’t actually all that sincere. The production
gets interesting in the bridge with the addition of strings, but otherwise the
blend of instruments is just too typical and at this point the album needs to
come to a conclusion.
2/5
Track 13- Little
White Lies
The group thankfully up the tempo and intense feelings with
Little White Lies, where they sing of this girl playing games with them and
being so appealing even if she does lie a lot. The mischievous and charming
quality of the lyrical content brings the album back to a finer form and the
band feel like more of their better, traditional fun selves within the songs
nice vocal delivery. The production of the track keeps things rock driven with
the stomping bass but with little flourishes of Auto Tune and some cool synths
we get a nice pop element within the track that is refreshing, and so by the
time the frenzied bridge finishes and the final chorus kicks in, I would be surprised
if you weren’t sold on the band once again.
3.5/5
Track 14- Better Than
Words
With the jaunty, summery opening and nice whistling hook of
the beginning, Better Than Words is a light pop rock affair that has a lovely
rhythm and which ends the record on a vibrant and very good note. The song
focuses on the group not being able to really express the feelings they have
for this person and how this person’s ability to make them feel this things is
something they just cannot explain with words. The snappy tone of the track is
great and the combination of the astute lyrics with a some smooth and charming
vocals makes for a fun listen. For me, the production of the track is also
great in terms of the blend of some jaunty guitar riffs and drums with some
little electronic flourishes makes for a fresher vibe and acts as a last minute
indication of a slightly better musical lane for the group to follow.
3.5/5
Final Review
Midnight Memories is definitely a record that improves on
the groups previous records and shows some nice maturity, but at the same time
it can feel like the group are trying to move on from their previous sound a
bit too quickly and not progressing in the way that they should be. Lyrically
the songs are always backed by catchy choruses but in some cases the clichéd rhymes
are just too obvious and annoying. Vocally the group are stronger, with tighter
harmonies and more power and nicer tone, but at the same time it can feel like
a bit of the youthful charm that makes them such an appealing boy band is lost.
And whilst the feisty pop rock sound is great and gives us a different vibe to
the band that is impressive, at times it can feel like too much of a stretch to
take seriously, whilst in other cases it can seem like the group is being
moulded into the casing of different artists music. Midnight Memories is a
powerful pop rock piece that has its musical value and which stands strong in
seeing the band continue to have success, but with a few too many songs and a
slight patchwork tone to some of the song, the group definitely need to find a
better balance between pushing their musical identity whilst remaining true to
their former selves, and they also need to give us less down/mid tempo songs or
work on their delivery of such tracks.
6/10
Best Track- Midnight
Memories
Worst Track- Something
Great
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