New album just leaked online, 10 days before its scheduled release. (ouch)

Seem's quite a solid album, the next single "Nights Changes" is a very nice ballad from them. My favourite from the ones I've heard is "Fireproof" which I believe was given away as a free download last month - has a great 80s feel to it.

Its amazing! Been listening to it all day! Such a good sound for them. Night changes and no control are both great songs!!

No Control, Clouds, and Girl Almighty are my favourites. I don't love Night Changes or Steal My Girl and think there were better options for singles. It's a good nostalgia trip through the 80s and 90s for me.

I thought Louis sounded really good (for Louis) and Zayn shone, as always. Harry impressed me, he's been working on his voice. I feel the Pop sound of the first two albums and the folk in Story of my life & Through The Dark suit Liam better in terms of showing off his falsetto.

Loving girl almighty, 18 and night changes. I don't feel guilty listening to the leak as have it on pre order .

I think I prefer it to their last album

My friend gave me the album to listen to it so I did.

I know it will definitely please their fans. It is a solid album actually, they do sound more grown up which no one can't deny that. I really like Fool's Gold and Night Changes, not bad ballads and Girl Almighty is catchy and fun. It is definitely more consistent than that crazy mix of Midnight Memories, it has older vibe, like 80s tracks. The 2 songs I don't like at all are No Control and Clouds, they are just too loud and annoying. And of course Steal My Girl which I REALLY don't like, such a bad single choice. However, I don't think the album has many great singles potential, the album is solid but it doesn't have songs that could be huge hits in my opinion - maybe Girl Almighty. I don't think Night Changes will be very successful single, it is a solid album track.

But kudos for them for more songwriting credits, it is such a shame Simon wasn't this supportive with his previous acts, the man sure loves covers too much, he was so god damn lazy and manipulative in the past.

It's such a throwback album, I'm having fun working out the songs they remind me of. Nothing as obvious as Midnight Memories's Pour Some Sugar On Me thankfully. Clouds is quite 90s but most is 80s I would say.

Girl Almighty would be a great single choice. Which means it won't be Stockholm Syndrome and No Control would also do well I think, both radio-friendly (which Midnight Memories and You & I were not). I love Clouds but the lyrics might be a surprise to the general public. We'll know the 3rd single choice when they perform it at the XF Final in December. I hope there's a fourth single in the summer like they did this year.

Oh come on, don't tell me that is already confirmed. Can Simon be any more predictable? Do they really have to perform twice every year? There are other artists out there, one performance is truly enough...

Anyway, I don't find anything surprising about Clouds lyrics so I'm not sure what you are getting at?

X Factor needs to remind people they are actually capable of launching a successful global act ...

I can't believe I'm saying this, I actually quite like it. I've never been a fan really (I was always Team Wanted), except for the odd single, but I really like Steal My Girl so had a listen and it wasn't too bad.

I'm sure it will do well for them. I am slowly falling in love with Zayn's voice, every time I hear Louis I want to cut my ears off but other than that, yeah quite like it.

There hasn't been any confirmation over acts for the final XF weekend but it's a fairly safe bet that One Direction will be on the bill. They are a global act and it's their home turf, two performances with two different songs isn't a huge injustice. Katy Perry did two last year, I could see Taylor Swift doing a second one. 1D are off to Australia late Jan/early Feb so it will be the main opportunity to promote their 3rd single. This isn't the BBC, if Simon wants to put one of his acts on the stage at the TV show he developed he can do.

I'm still enjoying it, I think it's their best album to date. Clouds is a massive song - I don't think they've ever done something like it, favourite break-up song in a while.

Their single choices are honestly absurd to me. Steal My Girl is the worst on the album by a long mile, Night Changes is pleasant but doesn't go anywhere and is incredibly bland. But maybe it might surprise me. Personally, of the ballads, Fool's Gold or 18 would've been better. I'd like to see Girl Almighty get the single treatment as well. Which means it will not.


Zayn's voice is something else. If he tightened up his live technique/performance, he would be unstoppable. I feel similarly about Louis most of the time, not as much on this album.

One of you beautiful people pm a link please?

By the way, does anybody find chorus Ready to Run, Spaces, Stocholm Syndrom and Clouds familiar? Its like I heard something like that before, but I can't put a finger on where. Maybe they were influenced by 80's and 90's bands, thats why it sounds familiar.

I gave a 2nd listen to No Control, maybe it wouldn't be so bad for my ears if Louis hadn't sang so much, he is the reason why I dislike the song. I just don't get why he gets so much lines when he is obviously the weakest singer. Few lines here and there should be enough, he can be important in other stuff like songwriting which he clearly is.

Dumdedumdum quite often gets a bit carried away announcing unconfirmed stuff. We don't know for certain that will happen. She's basing it on last years approach. The difference is that last year the first single was released in July. This year it was October. I doubt they'll announce a third single so soon but it might be possible.

I also think it's their best album and while I love some of the songs on Midnight Memories, FOUR flows much better. The track order on MM wasn't right and I rearranged it into a playlist.

I'm a big fan of Clouds and Girl Almighty even though I am preparing myself for the third single to be another terrible choice. Mina, you might enjoy this
http://nightchangesofficial.tumblr.c...ain-yourselves

I adore Zayn's voice. It lured me into 1D and it's exciting to see where he could go as an artist. The sound they've gone for with the last two albums suits all the boys but Zayn is the biggest surprise because he is using a different tone than his R&B one. It makes everything sound much warmer and more soulful compared to current indie/alternative artists like Jake Bugg (who I find very nasal).

Still waiting on a link guys

Their single choices are such an exercise in self-sabotage, I will never understand it. They need to put out all the great uptempos, and then throw a ballad in at the end. But they have a formula, and they're sticking to it unfortunately. Maybe on Single 3, they'll choose Girl Almighty/Clouds/Stockholm Syndrome and make my life.

Ha, that video is amazing!! Gosh, that's now all I want. Even if 1D are dismal dancers, they can learn . Or they could just do a Grease redux (let's be real, Zayn and Harry were born to play greasers).

Agreed on all points about Zayn's voice. I remember one reviewer pointing that out, how having his kind of voice paired with this folksy-indie sound was great because it was surprising. I like that the band clearly knows that because he's all over this album, especially on choruses and bridges, and it brings a great flavour to the songs.

Robertfitz, I sent you a link. I hope it works!

Love love love this album! Stand out tracks to me are Girl Almighty, No Control, Night Changes, Ready To Run and Fireproof. Just half the album... My least favourite track is probably Spaces.

Really? Love Spaces! Plus almost all the songs, it really is a great pop album! Not so sure about Clouds... And Stockholm Syndrome, which many fans seem to love. Just hasn't clicked with me yet, musically

I don't think there's an act of recent times that have evolved musically in front of our eyes as much as One Direction have.

Their first album is something little girls dreams are made of, as opposed to this one, which I really wouldn't be ashamed to have in my record collection. The growth and maturity these boys have gone through honestly does make me feel proud and before people come on here and knock it simply for being a 1D album, I hope they give it a listen with an open mind and review it for what is.

Is this a ground breaking, perfect pop album that will be talked about for years to come? No its definitely not. It is however an album for them to be proud of because they've finally clawed out of the cliché boyband territory that they've made their name on and created a peice of work that is actual music, rather then fluff.

I have a feeling this is their last full length album together. A greatest hits will follow in the next two years and so will their inevitable split. But so what? They've absolutely nailed it the past four years

I think they will put out a fifth studio album in 2015 and then a greatest hits in 2016 with a final tour that year.

When you look at the statistics around them, they've done brilliantly considering where they came from. Around 40 million certified sales worldwide, best-selling album of 2013, Third and fourth best-selling albums in 2012, three sell out world tours, third lined up for next year. All in three years of releasing music.

They've done absolutely incredible and deserve every little bit of success they've had. They've been worked so hard by Cowel, you can see how exhausted they are

They're not exhausted this year, in fact they've had a lot of time off so don't feel too sorry for them On the XF last night they looked really energised and they seem enthusiastic about the album. As they should be because it's a really solid piece of work, arguably one of the best pop releases of the year. And that's before we've heard the four deluxe tracks. It's an album that an indie band about to become festival circuit darlings might produce, and I mean that as a compliment. It's really fun as well, Girl Almighty has the most ridiculous lyrics, I love it so much.

Mina - I didn't find Zayn's voice as prominent on this album as the last one, probably because the others have improved so much. Liam I hardly heard at all because it's not got as many falsetto solos on ballads but also due to Harry and Niall developing their voices so the three sound similar now. I'm looking forward to seeing some lyric videos because on several solos I can't work out who sings it.

I think Zayn didn't have as many glory notes this album (thank god, as he's more than just coming in at the end and singing high notes) but what he did get stuck out to me. I saw a compilation of his solos, and it's striking how many bridges he gets to sing along with several choruses (and some opening verses), and often those are my favourite parts of the song or the ones that seem to stick out to me most. But I am glad about the even distribution this album, it doesn't feel so much like Zayn/Harry and their back-up singers. Harry, Niall and Liam sound similar a lot - I'm still confused about who's singing in Girl Almighty (except for Zayn on chorus) and the Control verses.

I echo what everyone has said about Zayn's voice, such a gorgeous tone to his voice and its so distinctive. I'm glad that their producers have finally given him more lines in both MM & FOUR, as the first two albums didn't feature enough of him.

I'm a 24 year old guy and I too wouldn't be ashamed of having this in my CD collection. In fact I listened to it in full driving home from work tonight (its a great album to drive to). I agree with zeze88 about Steal My Girl, it really is one of the worst tracks on here and doesn't suit the overall style of the album.

This whole 80s feel is what is making me really like this group more and more, there isn't another boyband with this sound out now, it just really works well.

After listening back to back again now, I've done a mini review and split the album down into what tracks I really like, are OK, and the ones I don't particularly favour.

Love:
Fireproof - Possibly one of the best songs 1D have recorded. Doesn't sound forced, just seems to flow naturally. Especially like the harmonies in this. Have to applaud Liam & Louis on their song-writing skills here. (Just to add, The third chorus by Zayn makes this track even more spectacular)

Stockholm Syndrome - This is currently on par with Fireproof as my favourite on this album. Talk about bringing the 80s back, its all right here in this song! Am I right in thinking its both Harry & Zayn singing the chorus? because it sounds fantastic. Not only do the vocals sound flawless in this one, if you concentrate on the instrumentation, its very impressively put together. The producers excelled themselves with this one.

Fools Gold - It's actually Harry that shines in this one the most, the chorus is just spine tingling. What I like about this is each of the boys get their own moment. This should have been the next single as opposed to Night Changes.

18 - Starts off very acoustic driven but then builds and builds. The reason this one particularly stood out for me was the lyrics, it's actually a really nice sweet song.

Spaces - Very very impressive, such a mature song.

Not Bad:
Night Changes - This has a lovely melody and does kind of have a christmassy feel to it but there's just something missing about it. I can't put my finger on it.
Girl Almighty - I'll be honest, I like this mainly for Zayn's "Am I the only.. only believer" line)
Ready to Run - This is nice and uptempo, the album does need it (and you can't overhear Louis on this which is a plus!)
Where Do Broken Hearts Go - I was tempted to put this in 'don't particularly like' but just listening again, it does have a catchy chorus and it probably will be the 3rd single (as the boys seem to love it).

Don't particularly like:
Steal My Girl - Simply doesn't fit the album.
No Control - Too much louis, Too much louis shouting
Clouds - This one sounds a bit too much, its exactly what Fireproof isn't. I'm really not into loud shouty choruses in general.