On Friday, November 13th, One Direction released their fifth studio album, Made in the AM. This is their first album without Zayn Malik, former fifth member who left the band last March. It is also their last album before their impending hiatus in 2016.
Personally, I believe this album really gives Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne the chance to write and perform the songs they want to. The band members wrote 13 out of the 17 tracks on the album, including "Perfect," which debuted at number two in the UK and number 10 on Billboard's Top 100. Rolling Stone compares tracks like, "Hey Angel," and "What a Feeling," to the Verve and Fleetwood Mac.
It's obvious that since their debut album, Up All Night, these boys have grown an incredible amount musically. Lyrically they've progressed from, "DJ got the floor to shake," to "The summertime and butterflies all belong to your creation." They've gone from bubblegum pop to a variety of different sounds on Made in the AM. "Temporary Fix," and "Never Enough," could almost be considered rock, while "If I Could Fly," slows it down with a piano ballad. There's no doubt that Zayn Malik had the best vocal range, but his absence is hardly noticed. One Direction's harmonies are outstanding and all four members really pull through to fill any vocal gaps.
But their musical growth isn't actually the main reason why I think you should listen to the album.
Have you ever noticed the way society fails to take anything females enjoy seriously? From Twilight to Justin Bieber to One Direction, people constantly ridicule things that young girls adore. They look at girls who paint their faces, pay absurd amount of money to see shows, and wait outside all day for their favorite artists as crazy. But what about sports fans? They paint their chests and tailgate all day and go so far as to throw riots when their team doesn't win. No one calls them crazy. It might be a reach to say it's because sports fans are predominantly male, but I certainly believe that's part of it. When females love something passionately, they're mocked and ridiculed for it, but when males love something passionately, even violently, they're rarely criticized.
At the height of their success, The Beatles' fan base was mostly young females. I know people hate it when the media compares One Direction to the Beatles, and I'm not. Musically, they're at two completely different levels. However, the band that revolutionized music sold cheesy merchandise, like lunchboxes and bobble heads. The Beatles were a part of the money hungry machine that is the music industry much like One Direction. The band participated in much of the same things that One Direction is often criticized for.
Truthfully, I think it's time to give something that teenage girls enjoy a chance. It's time to recognize that female youth really do know what they're talking about when they say, "This needs to be appreciated." And if you don't like it, then at least you can say you tried.
I suggest you listen to Made in the AM. Us girls might actually know what we're talking about.
