First Listen: Take Me Home by One Direction

Hello everyone! It's been a while, but hopefully I will be back on a lot more soon. Anyway, the new One Direction album is now up for a free stream on iTunes, and I've got your first listen. So let's get started:

1. Live While We're Young - This song is pretty harmless and it's got a good jam-out beat. My only problem is that it sounds just like What Makes You Beautiful, which works, but it gets tiring fast. It's light, airy, and pretty carefree, but releasing it as the lead single might not have been the best idea since it sounds just like their biggest hit.

2. Kiss You - Instead, this should have been the lead single. It's infectious. It's like jumping on a moving train and you party the whole time. The firecracker delivery of the first verse and the poppy chorus are impossible to deny. I'm also to differentiate their voices, a little. Is it a lyrical masterpiece? No. But I'm not expecting that from these guys. This one at least sounds a little different from WMYB and I would've made it the first single.

3. Little Things - A complete change of sound. This is one of Ed Sheeran's co-writes on the album, and I wish there was a version of him singing this because he would sound good on it. As for 1D? It's such a complete change of sound for them, especially after the "YAY PARTY OMGZ." sound of the first two tracks. In fact, it's placement on the tracklist is what might make it not work so well here. You know what else I don't dig? The lyrics, at least coming out of these guys' mouths. I can picture Ed Sheeran singing about a girl with confidence and weight problems, but when these guys sing it, it just sounds...out of place? It's just not a 1D song and they don't make it work in their advantage.

4. C'mon, C'mon - Back to their original sound, this one works for me. The harmonies on the chorus are good and the driving beat makes it instantly catchy. Of course, this being 1D, the song is about dancing. And nothing else. It's still a very fun one, and definitely jumps back into that sound the first two tracks established. Additionally, the vocals sound pretty good here, although I wouldn't know exactly who is holding those high notes on top. But kudos to him.

5. Last First Kiss - Apparently, this is the band's favorite and they are all credited as co-writers. I like this one. These are the kinds of "ballads" the band should stick to (I'm looking at you, Little Things). With the growing chorus, even if it is sung in unison, these are the kinds of songs that the band can experiment with to good results. I can picture the middle-schoolers slow dancing to this, being awkward and dancing ten feet apart, but I can also see high-schoolers singing this at their prom. Better this than a super non-romantic slow song (at one of my proms, the song was "Forever Young" by Jay-Z...yep....super romantic).

6. Heart Attack - Another song that works because it is specifically their sound. These sound like songs that the group would've made on their first album, and it's still working here. The "Ow!" is funny, for what it's worth. And this works good after LFK because it's an easy transition. Good beat, good vocals, good song.

7. Rock Me - Digging this one, a lot. Darker sound and they really make it work. It pulls a bit from Queen's "We Will Rock You," but it works. It's a pounding beat and when the drums kick in on the chorus, you're in. It's a little more sexual and mature than their other "Oh, girl you're pretty and sweet" songs, so it definitely works better for the older fanbase. Even me. Ah.

8. Change My Mind - Another change of pace, but this one does work. Still manages to be sexual even as a ballad. It grows to the end, which I love on just about any song ever. It's sweet. Nice. Cool. Next.

9. I Would - Probably the closest we get to "dance music," which says something. This album is pure pop, but there are some pop elements with the bass and synths. Anyway, it picks up well from CMM and it features some good harmonies from the boys.

10. Over Again - Okay, I really feel like I've heard this before, sung by Ed Sheeran. He co-wrote the song, so hmm. Anyway. This is an Ed Sheeran kind of song that they can pull off. It's got the extra instrumentation which works with the extra voices. Ed's lyrics are wonderful, as always, and the boys sound just fine.

11. Back for You - The lyrics seem too mature for them ("Every time you wake up, you're hearing me say goodbye"? Umm....) but the song is catchy, although I am not a fan of the repetition of "back for you" in the chorus. Nice little song.

12. They Don't Know About Us - Surprised. From the beginning of this song, I wouldn't have guessed the chorus progression. Drums, synths, guitars. And it doesn't feel overcrowded. This one surprisingly works.

13. Summer Love - It's not a Justin Timberlake cover, so if you're disappointed...sorry. Guitars and harmonies, nothing better. Unfortunately, it's not as touching as it should be since it will be heard in the dead of winter, but it's a perfect end of summer song. It almost has a country twang to it. I really really like this one.

Overall, there isn't a big difference from the first album to this one, except maybe the sexual overtones to it all. Still, there is enough for young fans to still enjoy. The group obviously excels with pop songs ready for radio, but the ballads do work here (except Little Things, which I still reserve judgment on).

Favorite tracks: Kiss You, C'mon C'mon, Last First Kiss, Rock Me, Summer Love

What do you think? Do you have any favorite tracks yet? Post them below in the comments section!

Evan