One Direction's latest album Four is a solid effort with an 80s feel [Review]
So One Direction have released their cunningly titled fourth album only 51 weeks after Midnight Memories. Four may not feature One Chance to Dance, the hoped-for Zayn Malik /Naughty Boy collab, nor the rumoured Emeli Sande or John Legend credits, but it's still pretty solid.
There's less of the country-rock feel than in the last album, and more Coldplay strains in songs such as Clouds and Spaces; but the most obvious influence seen from the moment lead single Steal My Girl opens the album, is 80s stadium rock à la Bon Jovi, Journey and Bruce Springsteen.
Every 1D album needs at least one fist-pumping singalong number, and here the honour is shared between No Control and the hand-clap-fuelled Girl Almighty. If you can overlook the slightly insensitive title, Stockholm Syndrome, and its 80s synthy vibe, is one to play on repeat.
Ed Sheeran lends his writing skills on acoustic ballad 18, lending 1D some street cred they wouldn't get otherwise, no matter how many tattoos Harry gets.
At times the lyrics feel a bit like they've been shoehorned into the music, and some slightly awkward falsetto notes, but overall Four is proof that 1D's future is secure.