FOUR

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What??? Today isn't Sunday...why am I posting on a Thursday? Don't worry, I will still post on Sunday, today is just kind of like a bonus post, but it is necessary. This week One Direction dropped their new album, FOUR and let me tell you, it is an absolute jam.

Throw away any preconceived mindset that you had of the five British/Irish heartthrobs and listen to me. This album is nothing like "What Makes You Beautiful" off their debut album, Up All Night. This album has the mature sound that shows their fans, as well as the critics, that the boys are grown up and that your typical boyband. Like their third studio album, Midnight Memories, this album brings forth a indie and rock elements into their music that separates some of the songs from the bubblegum pop music they were making when they first hit it big.

Before we break down some of the songs, lets talk about some technical stuff first, starting with their vocals. They have grown and developed with the boys. Their voices are no longer little boy voices, they have grown to fit their personalities and they show a great difference in maturity as well as range. When they first started out Zayn was not hitting as many high notes or riffs as he is now. Their voices also blend together better now then in the beginning. They have really learned how to sound like a band, not like they didn't before, but now you know that they are not just five individuals that were thrown together to make a band, they are five boys that make one band. Five voices that make one. Just like working in a choir, you need the voices in your section to sound like one voice. This doesn't mean they all sing in unison, it just means that the blend and balance is so on point that it sounds like one voice. That is what FOUR gives you. One voice, one band.

Going with that, their harmonies have improved dramatically. When I first listened to Midnight Memories I was aw-struck with their harmonies. They literally made me gush (being someone who's life is surrounded by music on a daily I am a sucker for great harmonies). And finally, the lyrical content, we are not in the ages of "you don't know you're beautiful, that's what makes you beautiful" oh no my friends, we are talking profound lyrics that actual mean something and that are actually based on a real life event or on a real life person. Liam has actually said that their song "Illusion" is about is girlfriend Sophie. Although, Liam himself did not write the song, one of their songwriters did (unintentionally I believe). Even though their songs are still about relationships you cannot get mad at them because, when you think about it, all bands write about relationships with boyfriends/girlfriends or even past friends. EVERY BAND DOES IT! So don't you dare say, "They only write about love" because I will have you look at the songs by your favorite band and make you count how many are about love. But on FOUR we don't see so much "oh I love you and our relationship is the best thing in the world" type songs, no we hear quite a few of breakup songs or songs of a love gone wrong, as well as unconventional love songs, such as their song "Stockholm Syndrome."

Now, let's get into some of the songs. The songs that I will be listing are the ones I believe are the best (a.k.a my favorites) as well as the ones I feel like "break the boyband mold." Legggoooo!

The first one, would probably be my favorite song off the album and this one is what I would call a "pub song". You're sitting in a pub, its almost last call and you've been chatting it up with some of your friends when one (in my life it would be me most likely) breaks out into song. And that song would be "Act My Age" the last track on the deluxe edition. This song brings me back to my roots. Being an irishwoman this song screams home (even though I was not born in Ireland, I still think of it as home). They have an irish jig beat starting off the song and the lyrics are in a pub song type of chant. There are not specific voices on the verses or chorus, its like they all just went into the studio and sang the song together straight through because that is what you would do in an actual pub. I love it and it makes me want to get up and dance. This song also breaks your typical boyband song. I mean, what type of boyband brings in celtic elements into their songs?

The next song would be "Once In A Lifetime." Now this song is not on my top 3 favorites list (which was hard to pick let me tell you) but this song brings a different sound that we are not used to with One Direction. When I first listened to this song I immediately thought of The Beatles. The chorus is something that you would hear on a track by The Beatles. Now don't throw daggers at me for making that reference, but the structure of the song is very reminiscent of something that you would find on a later Beatles album. This is also one of the songs that shows great harmonies from the boys. This song is a masterpiece and I feel like not enough people are giving this song the credit it deserves.

Everybody loves a good Louis solo right? Well "No Control" has a great one, and its called the chorus. I think that Louis has the most unique voice in the group and its not showcased enough on the albums so when I heard "No Control" and Louis was on lead for the chorus I was all giddy inside. I feel like the melody fits his voice perfectly and really shows the vulnerability in his voice but still holds onto the strong, controlled voice that he has.

The next two songs I'm going to pin together because they are finish out my top 3. The first would be "Fool's Gold" and the second being "Clouds." Starting with "Fool's Gold" this song has amazing melody that really shows a sensitive side to their voices in the verses. But I also really love the message of this song. Its not your typical love song, its about falling for something fake but having no regrets, the analogy of fool's gold is perfect in this song. We've all been there I think, we see the charm and beauty of a person on a surface level but then as we get to know them, and even fall for them, we find that they are not the person we thought they were. They're fool's gold. Then we have "Clouds" now this song has a bit of a alt-rock edge to it. I see this being on a movie soundtrack. When I listen to this song, yes its about a relationship, but I view it as being on such a high that you feel like nothing can bring you down. You are high on life, as they would say, and having the time of your life that you feel higher than the clouds and you never want to come back down. Its a feel good song for me and an absolute jam.

Finally, last song that I will be mentioning would be "Change Your Ticket." If you are a fan of The 1975 I think that you will enjoy this song. It reminds me of their song "Girls" its got that indie pop sound to it and the lyrics of it really show a mature and grown up side to the boys. Nope, these boys are not talking about holding your hand anymore and being your first kiss, no...they're getting more into their relationships. The opening lyrics are all talking about sharing a hotel together and being in the same bed (you can make your own conclusions there) and asking for their girl to stay longer. "playing hard to get, we did that when we were younger" I think that explains it all really. There is no more playing around like little teeny-boppers. No, they are men now and they are in real, meaningful relationships with more intimate actions, and this song I feel expresses that in a lighthearted way.

Well, I could talk about every song but I will stop there. You can go and listen to the album yourself to make your own conclusions, but I would definitely consider giving it a listen. Its not your typical boyband cookie-cutter album. Oh no, these boys are all grown up and they sing it loud and proud on FOUR. If you want to take a listen to it before you buy it you can now listen to it on Spotify or you could buy it on iTunes now! You wont regret it.

Say hello to the new One Direction.

Until next time my misfits,
Stefanie

P.s. I will still do a post on Sunday and I will still do a November Playlist at the end of the month, this was just a bonus post. :)

P.s.s I just thought I let you know that I'm going to be seeing them in August in Milwaukee on their On The Road Again Tour and I'm gonna be 10th row. Very happy that I'll be seeing these songs performed live. Ready to kick out my dancing shoes and beer for Act My Age.