Listening to One Direction’s aptly named album “Four” feels like being the star of a playfully romantic music video.
The pop band gained popularity when it won third place on the hit British television series “The X-Factor,” where the members met. On the group’s first two albums, “Up All Night” and “Take Me Home,” the five heartthrobs capitalized on their upbeat dance vibes, pop-tastic lyrics and adorable boy band image.
From the work on the group’s fourth studio album “Four,” however, it’s safe to say the five artists have graduated from their teenybopper days as teenage dreamboats. The album has shifted in tone from bouncy beats like “What Makes You Beautiful” to vocal-heavy, mellowed out sounds like “Story of My Life.”
The album starts with “Steal My Girl,” which opens with some melodic piano and guitar reminiscent of the musicality popular in ’80s pop music. In a matter of moments, the instrumental and beat-based components take a backseat to the group’s vocals. Compared to those on previous albums, the track is much more laid-back and alternative.
The lazy, chilled-out pop vibe continues consistently through the next couple songs until the tone shifts in “18,” which was co-written by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. Sheeran’s story of young love brings a sweetness to the album that isn’t quite captured in any of the other songs. The boys croon about loving this girl since they were 18, softly at first and gradually crescendoing into a full vocal and acoustic episode. Its musicality and lyrics make it a standout on the album.
The album immediately amps up the energy with the drum-heavy, girl-power anthem “Girl Almighty.” While the lyrics are a bit silly in parts, the intent is to describe a wildfire girl they would get down on their knees for, but it’s hard to even notice the words over the steady bass drum and catchy guitar melodies. Having zestier song here keeps the album from turning into a snooze-fest since the next two songs are comparatively much slower and relaxed in tone.
The band’s classic dance vibes surface in “No Control.” However, this track isn’t so much a carbon copy of the group’s “Best Song Ever” as it is reminiscent of the song. The new alternative feel and experimentation with pacing keep the song from returning completely to the band’s familiar pop-single roots. The catchy lyrics of “No Control” have the potential to stubbornly get stuck in the listener’s head for the rest of the day.
Following “No Control,” the song “Fireproof,” which the band released early, as well as “Spaces,” “Stockholm Syndrome” and “Clouds,” return to the pop-edgy vibe heard in the album’s first few tracks. While the songs are enjoyable and relatively catchy, it’s easy to lose track of when the songs change as they all begin to sound the same. The effect is a seemingly never-ending loop of upbeat clapping, acoustic guitar and mellow vocals.
One Direction’s matured sound is a welcomed change. The songs have a more organic quality, which is a nice break from the auto-tuned and electronic music. The band’s vocals have also ripened to showcase more range and color, which is interesting and pleasant to listen to.
Of course, the lyrics are just as repetitive and canned as can be expected from a boy band, but they’re catchy all the same. One Direction’s “Four” is a great album to play on a carefree afternoon while on a whimsical road trip up Highway 1 to find true love. But at the end of the day, nothing particularly interesting or revolutionary is really going on.
– Kelsey Rocha
Email Rocha at krocha@media.ucla.edu.