Midnight Memories
by One Direction
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 2 out of 15
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Billboard.com
    Nov 25, 2013
    85
    Midnight Memories, the third full-length from the "X Factor"-formed quintet, follows up on what worked best on last year's "Take Me Home," and tosses in some proficient new ideas to keep listeners eager for the band's continued evolution.
  2. AllMusic
    Nov 25, 2013
    80
    When the album ends and the various styles, songs, and moods are added up, Midnight Memories ends up as another satisfying album that does everything a One D album should do and then some.
  3. The Telegraph (UK)
    Nov 25, 2013
    80
    It is all so swaggeringly confident and honed to a perfect point, it is hard not to be caught up in its own sense of conviction.
  5. The A.V. Club
    Nov 26, 2013
    67
    As a whole, Midnight Memories isn’t a genre game-changer. But in terms of the One Direction catalog, this record is exactly the right move: There’s enough personality, charm, and dramatic solos to satisfy fans, and enough incremental moves toward artistic credibility to at least give the band a chance at an enduring career.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    Nov 25, 2013
    67
    Bizarrely, for an album by guys born in the early '90s, it's '80s hard rock that Midnight celebrates.
  7. Los Angeles Times
    Nov 26, 2013
    63
    Here there are spirited, pitch-perfect replicas of the Who's power-chord bombast ("Best Song Ever"), Van Halen's louche boogie ("Little Black Dress") and Def Leppard's stadium-sized glam ("Midnight Memories").

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Most Discussed Album of 2013
85
#85 Most Shared Album of 2013

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 410 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 248 out of 410
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 410
  3. Negative: 123 out of 410
  1. alexwalker01
    Nov 25, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Its one of the best albums of the year its a little bit different of the other two. but with this album 1D again show us why they start to be so important in music industry… Full Review »
  2. RobHart
    Feb 18, 2014
    5
    Album is full of catchy hooks. But they try too hard to sound mature and sometimes steal from other real bands. These guys have a long way toAlbum is full of catchy hooks. But they try too hard to sound mature and sometimes steal from other real bands. These guys have a long way to go if they want respect from men musically.… Full Review »
  3. RealReynolds
    Nov 25, 2013
    8
    “Midnight Memories” sees One Direction make a surprisingly assured shift into a range of more mature sounds without losing any of the“Midnight Memories” sees One Direction make a surprisingly assured shift into a range of more mature sounds without losing any of the playfulness or balladry that distinguished the better offerings from their first two albums. It’s just as addictive, with least 10 of the 14 tracks capable of making good radio singles. While the mixture of styles is quite unexpected, after a number of listens through you realise the songs are yoked together by a common theme. The core writing was clearly in the hands of commercially reliable experts, the boys’ lyrical contributions have ensured this is an album all about them and where they find themselves today (with plenty of scope to read between the lines on a number of love songs). What’s less pleasing is that so much of it sounds derivative it’s like a tour through Billboard 2012 with ‘80’s flashbacks thrown in. The One Direction boys are growing up, but they’re yet to find their own sound. That will come in time, and I’m really looking forward to seeing where these five adorable “idiots” (as they call themselves) take us next.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »