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Post by surfy on Nov 17, 2014 20:42:06 GMT -5
The person at the beginning of Night Changes is Zayn.
Louis sings the first half of V2, and then Niall sings the second half.
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Post by McCreerian on Nov 17, 2014 21:36:35 GMT -5
TIME Review: One Direction Hit Their Stride on Four: - Jamieson Cox
On Four, One Direction's members are more involved in the composition of their material than ever before In recent years, the release of a new One Direction record has become a November tradition on par with Black Friday sales and the first chilly blasts of winter. After being cobbled together by impresario Simon Cowell as part of the British version of The X Factor, the quintet — composed of Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, and Zayn Malik, if you need a refresher — has released an album every year like clockwork: no earlier than November 9th, no later than November 25th. All of them top the Billboard charts in their first week available. The music contained within each record has remained consistent, too: the band specializes in affable, buoyant pop-rock, drunk on youth and young manhood and sung largely in unison despite the small army of capable vocalists on hand.
At first glance, last year’s Midnight Memories was similar to the band’s first efforts — a perky lead single, a few folky stompers for balance, lyrical emphasis on love and lust and living in the moment — but a closer look at the album’s credits revealed a shift in their songwriting process. Working with veteran songwriters/producers Julian Bunetta and John Ryan, the band’s members — Tomlinson and Payne, in particular — began to play more of an active role in shaping their sound, with songwriting credits on all but two of the album’s fourteen main tracks. The result was a record that leaned toward arena-filling classic rock and power pop via chunky, bold riffs, spacious percussion, and booming chants; when it clicked, like on the spunky “Diana” and the Big Star-aping “Little Black Dress,” it revealed a valid alternative vision of chart pop that eschewed the dominant contemporary influences of dance and hip-hop, a vision almost unique to One Direction.
The band’s new record, simply titled Four, continues that evolution: its members are more involved in the composition of their material than ever, and the album as a whole takes another step towards the stadium-sized rock first suggested by Midnight Memories. There’s something endearing to the revelation that left to their own devices, One Direction’s members just want to make heart-on-sleeve, slightly cheesy ’80s arena anthems in the vein of Journey, Bryan Adams, and Bruce Springsteen circa Born in the U.S.A.; it does more to contribute to their obvious cultivation of a cool “we’re just regular lads!” identity than a year’s worth of goofy interview clips and candid documentary footage. Their take on the sound is immaculate: arrangements are grand and spacious, with guitar lines glistening and rhythms cavernous and blooming, and the band’s increasingly distinct vocals — allowed to sparkle via the use of harmony more than ever — at the forefront. Songs like lead single “Steal My Girl” and the dramatic “Fool’s Gold” have an expert sense of pace and scale, building from relatively quiet openings to giant, gorgeous climaxes, and even less ambitious songs like “Fireproof” and “18″ feel designed to reach the back corners of the biggest venues on the planet.
The material is helped along by the fact that the band’s members are becoming more compelling, and recognizable, singers. Early One Direction records and lead singles often sound like they’re being performed by a cute gang of urchins, talented but lacking formal training: a pleasant overall sound, but thin and homogeneous. On Four, it’s easier than ever to pick out the voices of each member, from Tomlinson’s sweet, feminine tenor to Malik’s muskier, more sensual tone and Styles’ raspy swagger. Small steps from tone to tone within each song lend them a dynamism and varied palette that earlier compositions lacked, and when they come together to form a tricky, shifting tapestry on the golden, folky “Fireproof,” it’s the album’s best moment.
Four also sustains the subplot that becomes increasingly prominent with each new One Direction record: the boys’ maturation into men, and the constraints placed on that maturation by the demographic facts of their commercial proposition. Each member is now in their early 20s — old enough to try their hands at “18,” an Ed Sheeran-penned weeper about loving like you did at that age, without it becoming too laughable — and there are moments on the record where their sexuality, while remaining thinly veiled, is palpable. Take “Girl Almighty,” a high-energy gallop framed as a toast to the female form that’s largely an excuse for the band’s members to yelp, “I’d get down on my knees for you!” Most songs are less explicit with their innuendo, of course, but tracks like “Fool’s Gold,” “No Control,” and the spunky Styles-penned “Stockholm Syndrome” are ripe with lust and physical expressions of affection. It’s fun to find the spots on each new record where the band’s burgeoning adulthood pokes through their polished veneer, but it’s even more exciting to think about what’ll happen when their identity takes a step forward to match the progress they’ve made musically.
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Post by Active Aggressive on Nov 17, 2014 21:44:40 GMT -5
Tomlinson’s sweet, feminine tenor Shade, but no lies told. This and 1989 are two of the best pop albums of the year. Hell, they are two of the best albums of the year, period. Very impressive. I just downloaded the deluxe songs. I'll get to them tomorrow. Between listening to this and half of TVOTR, I am madd behind in my TV.
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Post by anafan on Nov 17, 2014 22:40:22 GMT -5
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Post by Juan Carlos on Nov 18, 2014 11:15:09 GMT -5
From BuzzJack Music Forum: 1 One Direction - Four (75.3k) * 2 Pink Floyd - The Endless River (13.3k) 3 Ed Sheeran - x (12.1k) 4 Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour (11k) 5 Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways (8.5k) This is the Tuesday update in the UK and Four is expected to debut atop there.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2014 16:08:42 GMT -5
For all my Canadians gurls, the deluxe is 12.79 at Costco!
From my first hq listen its better than my first imprrssion but still their worst album. Fireproofon and Night Changes are definitely my favorites. The album lacks solid uptempos and I feel like it could've been great with the songs that Zayn worked on. It's a B- in my book.
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Post by crystalphnx on Nov 18, 2014 18:25:59 GMT -5
This and 1989 are two of the best pop albums of the year. Hell, they are two of the best albums of the year, period. Very impressive. I just downloaded the deluxe songs. I'll get to them tomorrow. Between listening to this and half of TVOTR, I am madd behind in my TV. speaking of 1989, Four actually sounds like a much more heavily 80's-inspired album to me after a few listens. overall, I still prefer 1989, but "Steal My Girl", "Where Do Broken Hearts Go", "No Control", and "Stockholm Syndrome" really scream "80's"! I definitely enjoyed UAN and TMH, but I REALLY like the direction they've taken with these last two albums. <3
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Post by musicfan134 on Nov 18, 2014 20:20:05 GMT -5
I have to say that I was a bit meh on the album after the first listen. Honestly the only song that really stood out to me was "Where Do Broken Hearts Go". The first listen was honestly a bit of a let down. But repeated listens have been much more enjoyable. I can't even pick favorites at this point--the songs that AREN'T my favorites are "Girl Almighty", "Spaces", "Clouds" and "Once in a Lifetime" (with OIAL being the only song on the album that I honestly feel like I'll be skipping.) The first 3 are good songs in their own right but I just can't get into them as much as the rest of the album, and OIAL really just sounds like a Beatles reject to me if I'm being perfectly honest. :/
Other than that though the album is PERFECT! I'm so glad that I really got into them--I actually liked them ever since I heard "Tell Me a Lie" (I"m a KC stan) but I didn't really get into them until I saw their movie. Best decision I've ever made. <3
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Post by SHOOTER on Nov 19, 2014 14:53:03 GMT -5
Projected to debut at #1 with 400-425k.
Up All Night debuted at #1 with 176k (1.9m to date).
Take Me Home debuted at #1 with 540k (1.8m to date).
Midnight Memories debuted at #1 with 546k (1.4m to date).
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Post by musicfan134 on Nov 20, 2014 1:07:53 GMT -5
Alright, time for a track by track review now that I've had ample listening time: Steal My Girl: This song took a bit of getting used to. I think this was the right choice for the lead single, but that being said, this is far from the best song on the album. In fact, it may be the worst song on the album IMO. I feel like the lyrics are a bit cheesy, but the production does a really good job at making up for it. 6/10 Ready to Run: This song also was a grower. The first time I listened to it I was very underwhelmed. Repeated listens, however, have done this well. I really like the melody and instrumental of this one, and it's different but still very 1Dy. 8/10 Where Do Broken Hearts Go: This song was the instant favorite for me, and quite possibly the best song of their career. I can't wait to hear them perform in concert and I think the crowd will go wild. I hope to see this one become a single down the road. 10/10 for sure, hands down. 18: I feel like their vocals are definitely strong here, perhaps the best they sound on the album. It's interesting that this is one of the tracks they didn't write yet they sound FANTASTIC. (Not that they don't in their other songs, but 18 is definitely a vocal highlight.) This is probably the closest thing to "bubblegum pop" that is present here. 9/10 Girl Almighty: I feel like this will be a concert favorite, and this was another grower for me. I didn't get into this right away, but it's starting to click with me. That being said the lyric "I'd get down on my knees for you" makes me cringe a little because I know they'll never get on their knees for me. 7/10 Fool's Gold: I really like the chorus of this, and I think this is one of the best written songs on the album actually. The lyrics are really strong because they speak from personal experience? (Taylor Swift comes to mind when listening to this.) In addition to a writing highlight, I think this is another vocal highlight for them. I would also like to see this become their final single from the album; not sure how well it would do, but with their fifth or sixth single (SO HELP ME IF WE ONLY GET 3 SINGLES FROM THIS ALBUM SOMEONE'S GETTING FIRED) it doesn't matter much. 10/10 Night Changes: I love this one; I think it has one of the best melodies of any 1D song. I think it was the perfect choice for the 2nd single. My only qualm about this one is that I can't listen to this without thinking of "The Riddle", and have been confusing the songs quite frequently. 9/10 No Control: This one is wonderful. The lyrics are a bit...personal, and if parents don't realize what they are singing about I will lose all faith in humanity. I really like Louis in this one and I think he did an excellent job with taking the lead. This is one of the best songs on the album, but I'm not sure they should do this as a single. This is another well written one though, and I really like the production on it as well. 10/10 Fireproof: Fireproof was one of those songs that sounds great on the first listen and continues to sound as fresh as day 1 on continued listens. One of the best songs on the album, in every aspect. It may be one of the best 1D songs ever. 10/10 Spaces: This one was a bit meh for me at first, and after several listens...I think this could be a powerful song to end their last ever concert on. It's something that makes me a bit sad to think about, but I feel like this song could be a sign that it's the beginning of the end of 1D. I don't think it implies there are problems in the group at all, but just the fact that they're singing lyrics like, "Who's gonna be the first to say goodbye?" is a bit telling. Overall though, I don't see this as one of the stronger songs on the album; in fact, I would put it towards the bottom of the rankings for songs on FOUR. It's a good song, don't get me wrong, and perhaps it will grow on me, but right now it's probably a 6/10. Stockholm Syndrome: The title of this is extremely intriguing. I really like this one as well, and I think this is another one that really excels in the writing and the production in particular. I think this is excellent. 9/10 Clouds: This one is always one I have trouble remembering much. It's a bit forgettable. I think it's pretty catchy though and could be a big hit at concerts. 8/10 Change Your Ticket: I think this is easily the best of the deluxe tracks. I love the laid back feel it has, and I think it's one of the best written songs on the album. This is different for them, and I think it's really paid off. I honestly think this is stronger than some of the tracks on the "regular" album. 10/10 Illusion: I really like this one, but I don't LOVE this one. I think it's really well written, and I think this is another vocal highlight for them. But I can't really get into this for whatever reason; I like it, but it's not one of my favorites. 8/10 Once in a Lifetime: This is actually the only track on the album I'm already starting to skip. I literally can't listen to this song without thinking "Beatles reject". It's not that it's a BAD song, but it's so different from everything else that I just can't get into it. I find myself a bit bored listening to it actually 4/10 Act My Age: Listening to this song makes me think of Peter Pan. I think this song is basically Niall summed up in 3:19. I think if they were to do solo careers, this is the kind of music Niall would want to make. I actually really like this one; it's not the best on the album, but I think this song captures their personalities better than any other song on the album. 9/10 Overall: I love this album, but it did take me a few listens to really get into it. The album has a lot of "growers", which I think is really good. In particular, I feel like the writing overall on the album is a definite improvement over their previous works. This is also the best vocally they've ever sounded, and I think all 5 of the boys deliver meaningful solos in a way they weren't able to previously. I can't help but compare this to Carrie Underwood's Blown Away album--I realize this may seem like a strange comparison, but I feel like there are very similar vibes coming off of both works. The songs seem a lot more mature than previous recordings (as did Carrie's on BA) and I could see this becoming the album that solidifies them as a solid band that is here to stay. That being said, I think FOUR will be a turning point for 1D. I think they have 2 roads they could go down; I feel like it's possible that after this album they are going to start to consider solo careers. While I realize 1D has at least one more album contractually, I think with the various sounds that FOUR has (which is excellent, I cannot stress this enough), I could see the boys wanting to do their own thing for a while. But I also feel like this album could help cement them as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry, and I could potentially see them taking a more Hot AC/AC approach as far as promo with this album, and after the FOUR era market 1D as a mainly Adult Contemporary act. Of course, this route would be dependent on them staying together, which I could definitely see happening but you never know. Those are just my two cents on the album. I'm sure my opinions will change as time goes on (aka tomorrow).
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Post by surfy on Nov 20, 2014 13:51:48 GMT -5
Performing on SNL December 20th!
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Post by McCreerian on Nov 22, 2014 16:05:49 GMT -5
This guy REALLY loves the new album!
I agree with his assessment! Love the enthusiasm.
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Post by Juan Carlos on Nov 23, 2014 14:21:47 GMT -5
From the Official Charts: The fab five have done it again – following on from scoring the biggest selling album of 2013 with Midnight Memories, the unstoppable One Direction have landed their third consecutive chart-topping album.
Four – the band's fourth album, funnily enough – has romped to Number 1 with huge sales of 142,000, outselling its nearest rival by over 90,000 copies. As expected, it debuts atop in the UK, becoming their fourth Top 2 there. #1. Take Me Home#1. Midnight Memories#1. Four#2. Up All NightAnd: Speaking exclusively to Scott Mills on Radio 1 and scotching those split rumours, 1D's Liam Payne confirmed: "We're already thinking about the next album". Oh!
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Post by surfy on Nov 23, 2014 19:10:40 GMT -5
Okay, so how much = "big sales" over in the UK? I don't know much about their sales.
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Post by ry4n on Nov 23, 2014 21:00:45 GMT -5
Okay, so how much = "big sales" over in the UK? I don't know much about their sales. It's the 3rd biggest one week sales this year after Ed Sheeran (182k) and Coldplay (168k).The #1 album has been selling like 20-40k this year in the UK; aside from major releases. Platinum is 300k in the UK so that's probably the best thing to use as a measurement. Going by population proportions would make 142k equal to 710k in the US (and 1.18 million for Midnight Memories)... which is a little too insane. Their previous UK album openings: 139k Up All Night 155k Take Me Home 237k Midnight Memories
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Post by allow that on Nov 24, 2014 11:28:24 GMT -5
So what's the deal with Zayn? In the past week, I caught 1D on both Kimmel and the AMA red carpet. Dude doesn't say a word, makes strange expressions staring into nowhere, and went from being #1 to #5 in the group in terms of hotness. Makes me so sad :(
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Post by surfy on Nov 24, 2014 12:35:35 GMT -5
He is definitely not the least attractive of the group, that is all Louis.
But he doesn't seem to be engaged anymore... It's weird
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Post by Active Aggressive on Nov 24, 2014 13:12:50 GMT -5
Some (most likely Ezekiel 23:20–21) would say it's the drugs. From what I know of them (admittedly not much, since I didn't like them until MM), Zayn has always been the reticent one of the group. There always has to be one of those, right? During the AMAs, he cracked a smile a few times and put his arm around Niall, so there's that. His mannerisms when singing are pretty strange though. He completely covers his mouth with the microphone and muffles himself in the process. I guess that's better than Harry's monkey-mouthed, eyes-bugging, vein-popping style.
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Post by allow that on Nov 24, 2014 14:14:48 GMT -5
Zayn has always been the reticent one of the group. Always. But it's... different now.
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Post by Ezekiel 23:20–21 on Nov 24, 2014 14:43:47 GMT -5
He is definitely not the least attractive of the group, that is all Louis. But he doesn't seem to be engaged anymore... It's weird Perhaps he's going through something right now and he can only hold it in so much. Hopefully that isn't the case.
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Post by YourFaveIsAFlop on Nov 24, 2014 15:01:41 GMT -5
I think it's becoming clear that Zayn has different ambitions than the rest of the group. Although I have no doubt that there will be at least one more 1D album, I think a Zayn solo project won't be far off.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2014 21:33:31 GMT -5
So what's the deal with Zayn? In the past week, I caught 1D on both Kimmel and the AMA red carpet. Dude doesn't say a word, makes strange expressions staring into nowhere, and went from being #1 to #5 in the group in terms of hotness. Makes me so sad :( He basically replied to one of his dms that a few songs that he contributed to the album were rejected by his management. I'm guessing that he's bummed that not as much of his written contributions made the actual album. Anyways, the sooner we get a Zayn solo album, the better imo. Here's the tweet for reference:
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Post by cause_for_celebration on Nov 24, 2014 21:47:48 GMT -5
So what's the deal with Zayn? In the past week, I caught 1D on both Kimmel and the AMA red carpet. Dude doesn't say a word, makes strange expressions staring into nowhere, and went from being #1 to #5 in the group in terms of hotness. Makes me so sad :( Still #1 even with the disgusting mullet
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Post by Luckie Starchild on Nov 24, 2014 22:25:36 GMT -5
So what's the deal with Zayn? In the past week, I caught 1D on both Kimmel and the AMA red carpet. Dude doesn't say a word, makes strange expressions staring into nowhere, and went from being #1 to #5 in the group in terms of hotness. Makes me so sad :( Still #1 even with the disgusting mullet I agree... still #1 even with the Karen Carpenter/Auschwitz look...
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allow that
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Post by allow that on Nov 24, 2014 23:00:22 GMT -5
Still #1 even with the disgusting mullet I agree... still #1 even with the Karen Carpenter/Auschwitz look... I had to Google image wtf Karen Carpenter looks like... Luckie, I believe you, but help me here! I don't see it!
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YourFaveIsAFlop
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Post by YourFaveIsAFlop on Nov 24, 2014 23:45:28 GMT -5
Still #1 even with the disgusting mullet I agree... still #1 even with the Karen Carpenter/ Auschwitz look... inappropriate
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Post by McCreerian on Nov 29, 2014 16:50:51 GMT -5
The world's biggest pop act return to their homeland next year with the eagerly awaited announcement of a brand new UK tour in 2015. After a one-off performance in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in June 2015, the boys' full tour kicks off at London's O2 Arena in September and wraps up a month later in Sheffield. All tickets go on sale Saturday 6 December at 09:00 from www.ticketmaster.co.uk/1D For VIP packages visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk/1DVIP The full UK tour dates are: United Kingdom Date City Venue September 24 London O2 Arena September 25 London O2 Arena September 26 London O2 Arena October 3 Manchester Manchester Arena October 4 Manchester Manchester Arena October 7 Glasgow SSE Hydro Arena October 8 Glasgow SSE Hydro Arena October 10 Birmingham Barclaycard Arena October 11 Birmingham Barclaycard Arena October 20 Belfast Odyssey Arena October 21 Belfast Odyssey Arena October 25 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena October 26 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena October 29 Sheffield Motorpoint Arena October 30 Sheffield Motorpoint Arena TICKETS ON SALE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 2014, 9:00AM LOCAL TIME Ireland Date City Venue October 16 Dublin 3Arena October 17 Dublin 3Arena
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Post by Active Aggressive on Nov 30, 2014 12:56:44 GMT -5
This album is even better than I remember it being.
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Post by McCreerian on Nov 30, 2014 20:56:07 GMT -5
The more I listen to this album the more I'm hearing the power of "Where Do Broken Hearts Go." If their label is smart enough (and that's a BIG if!) then they will release this as soon as "Night Changes" runs it's course. WDBHG could become their biggest charting song and finally give 1D an "I Want it That Way" moment. The song is THAT good! Yes the album has other songs that could be hits but none as easy as this one. Which means given 1D's history it'll grow cobwebs instead of being the radio smash it was written to be. I hope that for once the right decision is made and it gets the release it deserves in the first quarter of next year.
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Post by The Upper Hand on Dec 5, 2014 18:11:26 GMT -5
I agree that "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" is definitely a highlight.
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