On each album One Direction has no more than 5 songs on the album that they’ve written themselves and considering the group consists of 5 different musical talents, that’s a little disappointing. Not to mention their latest album is a 18 track release. Every song on Midnight Memories could have easily been on their first album Up All Night or possibly their sophomore Take Me Home. Either way there is no noticeable musical development coming from the members of the band. They are still singing the same jump up and down because I’m stuck in the friend zone but I still want you pop records they were singing when they were teeangers 3 years ago. The records weren’t that good then and they definitely aren’t now. There is no denying that One Direction’s music is infectious, catchy, and teen girls love it. What else is there though? In the beginning I loved 1D’s music too, it was fun and made me flip my hair and it helped that 5 cute European lads were singing the tunes. Two albums later though, it’s boring. When I listened to their new album I could barely get through it because it felt like I was listening to Take Me Home with a few new arrangements paired with some homage to Jonas Brothers glory days music. Just like how I’ve grown in the past 1-2 years since I appreciated 1D’s music, I’m sure 1D has too, yet there music hasn’t. This is simply evidence to me that 1D are stuck and as long as they’re being given 1 year to release a new album and thrown automatic hits from producers and composers they will never grow as artists, as musicians, and as 1D.
With all that said I believe that One Direction needs to do the same thing that every band/ teen heartthrob has to do. Stop releasing albums and going on tours every two seconds and take time to grow. Right now One Direction is playing it safe and they have been for quite some time now and it’s getting old. I’m not saying 1D needs to take Miley twerking or JB’s misdemeanors type risks but they should try to go in the direction of Miley and JB musically. Miley and JB two previous teen super-pop stars, with their latest albums are venturing away from the mold of who their record label is telling them to be and deciding who they want to be and there music reflects that. JB is returning to his original love hip-hop/R&B which we saw back in his Youtube cover days and he’s writing and producing now. The same with Miley she’s found a new sound and has managed to incorporate her new sound with some country pop influence from her past into her new music. One Direction I believe is fully capable of growing as artists and doing so solo or as a group. Look at Justin Timberlake, I guess 1D just need to find their Timberland.