Their second studio album, Take
Me Home (2012), is characterised by rock-inherited pop, prominentelectric guitar riffs, bright synthesisers, a homogeneous sound
and message, and the pitch-correcting software Auto-Tune. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian interpreted its
signature sound as a "peppy, synth-bolstered
take on early-80s new-wave pop,
heavy on clipped rhythms and chugging guitars," which, he said, is at
least an improvement on the substitute contemporary R&B "that was once the grim lot
of the boyband."Jon Caramanica, writing in The New York Times,
considered the album "far more mechanical" than their debut album,
although noted that it is sonically and lyrically similar. The album's
lyricism speaks of falling in love, unrequited love, the insistence that flaws are
what make a person unique, commitment, jealousy and longing for past
significant others.One Direction's debut studio album, Up All Night(2011),
is predominantly a pop music record, containing elements of teen pop, dance-pop, pop rock, with electropop and rockinfluences. Digital Spy's Robert Copsey described the
album as a "collection of PG pop rock with killer choruses", while The New York Times considered
it "full of easy rock-inflected pop, blithe and sometimes
clever."Jason Lipshutz of Billboard acknowledged that the
album demonstrates an originality in sound that was "necessary for the
revitalization of the boy band movement".The songs "One Thing"
and "What Makes You Beautiful" were particularly noted for the genres
of power pop and pop rock, for their "powerhouse" guitar riffs and "forceful"
choruses.
Erica Futterman for Rolling Stone favoured their
live acoustic performances
as both showing, "Horan's ability to play guitar, as well as One
Direction's admirable live vocals. There was no need to worry about a backing
track or a bum note, a pleasant realization at a pop show."Herald Sun's Cameron Adams opined that One
Direction have "strong pop voices". Melody Lau of the National Post wrote, "It's easy
to get lost in inherent appeal of their perfectly coiffed dos and
almost-too-put-together preppy style but somewhere in the midst of all the
love-struck squeals of teenage girls are guys who can actually sing and, to a
certain extent, entertain." Jane Stevenson of the portal siteCanoe concurred: "What I didn't
really prepare myself for was that they all can actually sing in
concert." Chris Richards, writing in The Washington Post,
dissented from the approval: "As the five traded couplets, it was tough to
imagine a future Justin Timberlake, Ricky Martin or Bobby Brownemerging from the pack. No one
voice stood out." Mike Wass of Idolator felt
One Direction's "surprisingly accomplished effort" of Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" proved that One Direction
are "more than capable" of evolving their sound.
Their third album Midnight
Memories (2013) is a pop rock record, a slight departure from the
band's original teen pop sound. Liam Payne called Midnight Memories a
"slightly rockier and edgier" album than their previous material. The
album is heavily influenced by 80s rock and folk music and briefly
integrates elements of dubstep, notably in "Little White Lies". The
album's lyrical themes primarily revolve around love, heartbreak and sexual
intercourse. Many critics praised its lyrical depth and musical composition
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