After Zayn Malik announced his departure from One Direction in March, it seemed that the international act might cease to exist as the pop powerhouse it has become. Now a four-piece, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson have put to rest any doubt with their fifth studio album “Made in the A.M” out last Friday. Released following confirmations of the group’s extended hiatus, “Made in the A.M.” may be One Direction’s swan song — if it is, they are going out on a high note.
“Made in the A.M.” reflects an obvious maturation for the British-Irish group. One Direction’s previous albums are chock-full of playful loverboy lyrics that have come to define the boy band and while “Made in the A.M.” is no different, it shows a greater level of lyrical complexity than its predecessors. The band has writing credits on nine of the thirteen tracks, with help from longtime colleagues Julian Bunetta, Jamie Scott and John Ryan. The thematic content, however, is largely the same and does not do much to transcend their typical prescribed audience of teenaged and twenty-something women.
The lead single from the album, “Drag Me Down” was released this summer and acted as somewhat of a turning point for the band, proving their continued relevance post-Malik and introducing their slightly more mature sound. “Perfect,” their more recent single, has an edgier bad-boy feel while still fitting nicely into their well-curated pop image. These tracks, however, weren’t entirely indicative of just how varied the album’s sound would be.
The album’s diverse sound sets it apart from the rest of One Direction’s discography, with musical influences spanning several decades of rock. “Olivia,” a whimsical track with saccharine lyrics, is essentially the musical love child of the Beatles’ “Penny Lane” and “Pure Imagination” from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” “Walking in the Wind,” a bonus track on the deluxe album, is a clear homage to the likes of Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” and “Graceland” while “Hey Angel” is an anthemic modern day “Bittersweet Symphony” by fellow English group The Verve. “What a Feeling” gives off the easy vibe of a Fleetwood Mac tune. With such a variety of influences, however, the album’s cohesion suffers slightly.
Perhaps the album’s biggest standout is “If I Could Fly,” a heart-wrenching piano-backed ballad that excels in its simplicity and tenderness with lines like “If I could fly / I’d be coming right back home to you / I think I might give up everything/ just ask me to.” Unsurprisingly, cutting back to a four-piece has given each member a chance to flex his vocal chords. Tomlinson and Horan previously took somewhat of a backseat, but their vocals are just as prominent on “Made in the A.M.” as Styles’ and Payne’s, who are often touted as the leading vocalists.
Though One Direction may have had something to prove with this album, “Made in the A.M.” is first and foremost a heartfelt send off for their massive loyal fan base. In the closing track “History,” which has been dedicated to the fans themselves, Tomlinson sings “this is not the end / We can live forever,” the bridge a firm reassurance that this is not the last from One Direction. Whether or not this is the last we’ll hear from the group, “Made in the A.M.” is a satisfying close to this chapter in One Direction’s journey.
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