Artist: One Direction
Typically, as a band (or in this case, "band") releases a second album, there is a sense of progression. Growth is the goal, usually. Though, in the case of One Direction, the growth seems less dependent on the singers, and more upon the producers, songwriters, and handlers. At this point, it was more than a little obvious that the boys weren't writing their own music or lyrics.Yet, they remain consistent in their vocal quality. Unfortunately, this is the ONLY high point on the album.
Somehow, a regression seems to have occurred in the production Take Me Home, One Direction's sophomore outing as this decade's main troubadours of bubblegum poppery. As far as lyrical high points go, there are only two that really register above the bare minimum. "Heart Attack" is a staccatoed chronicle of the trials and tribulations of the "friendzone", while "Little Things" rises JUST above that as an ode to all the little things (geddit?) that the hypothetical, collective man that the group represents loves in his hypothetical, collective woman that the audience represents. It's ultimately in the same vein as "What Makes You Beautiful" and "Everything About You" off of their debut, Up All Night.
Again, they are vocally on point, and the melodies and harmonies are infectious, but they are lyrically running in place. In fact, much of this album feels somewhere closer to a mild reinterpretation of their previous album, but in the exactly the same style. Perhaps, this is to ensure consistency of sound and to maintain fan affections as they stand with perfectly crafted imagery onstage? This is reinforced by the "sampler" qualities of the album, possibly going for some sense of "timelessness", but instead, sounding like lesser versions of better things. After listening to the final track, I could only feel a bit let down. Perhaps, in another album, they may actually break free from the shackles of bubblegum-coated pop-rock, and strut into much more interesting places.
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