User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 410 Ratings

User score distribution:
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  1. Jan 25, 2022
    3
    an undeniable improvement in their discography for sure. they aim for a mature sound that still retains it's playfulness that got them the adoration they have. one direction is excellent at curating pop earworms with anthemic chorus after anthemic chorus and generating fanfare with comedic music videos(best song ever),lavish night raves(title track) and declarations of fidelity. it alsoan undeniable improvement in their discography for sure. they aim for a mature sound that still retains it's playfulness that got them the adoration they have. one direction is excellent at curating pop earworms with anthemic chorus after anthemic chorus and generating fanfare with comedic music videos(best song ever),lavish night raves(title track) and declarations of fidelity. it also has some of they best work as a group such as ''story of my life'' which pulls at the heartstrings with it's longing nostalgia . when they lean into the more rock sensibilities they strike gold such as ''little black dress'' which i cannot stop singing in the shower or the pleading ''Diana'' which despite being saccharine and desperate does so enough that it doesn't repel. bu he many moments of heavy handed forgeable should've been outtake's weight he album such as ''something great'' ,''through the dark'' or happily'' which is just a erroneous misstep given improvement of ''half a heart ''and ''why don't we go there?'' (bonus tracks) o the aforementioned standard editions. ultimately like all of one directions discography it is not a ''bad'' record despite no being a good or great one either.jus a compilaion of catchy record lable serving tunes that are too inoffensive and insince to be worh taking seriously beyond ''this is nice o sing for karaoke'' Expand
  2. Aug 26, 2021
    10
    This is my favourite 1d album. The rock influence in it, is just great. The vocals in You & I and Best Song Ever are incredible. The sound has matured here and the songs are still catchy as hell. I really recommend it!
  3. Apr 15, 2021
    10
    ¡Es asombroso! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️¡Es asombroso! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
  4. Mar 29, 2021
    8
    What else can you say about this album? - A masterpiece....................
  5. Nov 29, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A masterpiece album one direction start a new era with a new album mixed between pop & rock.. this album is an extraordinary Expand
  6. Aug 31, 2020
    6
    This is their worst album despite having their best song on it. Aptly named Best Song Ever. This album feels tired as they continue to sing about the one girl for them.
  7. Jul 12, 2020
    10
    Take a listen to anything but the singles and then we can talk. One Direction supremacy. Y'all are just misogynistic and think that young girls can't have a proper music taste. I wrote an entire research paper on this. One Direction was popular because they were good. Thank you.
  8. Feb 2, 2020
    10
    One Direction's best album ever!
    And I can't believe that it hasn't a good rate!
  9. Jan 31, 2020
    10
    Midnight memories, foi um álbum da One Direction com músicas diferentes do que eles costumam nos entregar. Me surpreendeu bastante e eu acho que os meninos gostaram de ir por um novo caminho, explorar outros estilos musicais.
  10. Jan 27, 2020
    10
    Midnight Memories will always be their best and my fave album. It’s a good mixture of teen rock & pop showing off a more “mature” side of them compared to their first 2 albums. Kinda like it was coming of age for them.

    They contributed to most of the writing and did a great job. Louis and Niall got the solo verses they deserved. Every song is a bop. There’s no skip-able or bad tracks.
    Midnight Memories will always be their best and my fave album. It’s a good mixture of teen rock & pop showing off a more “mature” side of them compared to their first 2 albums. Kinda like it was coming of age for them.

    They contributed to most of the writing and did a great job. Louis and Niall got the solo verses they deserved. Every song is a bop. There’s no skip-able or bad tracks. Back in 2013 1D wasn’t taken seriously and this album didn’t get the best reviews and the recognition it deserved. I hope people now can give it a chance.
    Expand
  11. Dec 7, 2019
    10
    Um dos melhores albuns da one direction, nos trouxe uma sonoridade bem diferente das que nós estávamos acostumados.
  12. Jul 25, 2017
    10
    a mi me re encantó la verdad, sobre todo Happily, Strong, y Diana, creo que es similar a Up all night, pero me encantó, En ese tiempo la voz de Harry ha desarrollado tanto como la de los demás chicos, se merecen un 10.
  13. Feb 16, 2017
    8
    This album has both the best and the worst tracks One Direction /their team/ has ever come up with. But it's still my favorite. They're still pop, yes, but they moved out of their comfort safe zone a bit and added a little bit of something what's not rock but leads to it, something new and something I really liked. I am glad this album is out here because it really has something there.
  14. Feb 13, 2017
    8
    Bom album, diferente daqueles 2 lixos chamados Up All Night e Take Me Home, esse album é maravilhoso, Amém foi ai que 1D ficou bom, Reis, Four Pisa mas esse album é hinario, 59 é o cu de vocês
  15. Nov 21, 2016
    5
    It's honestly not as bad as I expected, but it's also nothing particularly special. I'm no fangirl/boy but I am also no hater. I can take it for what it is, a fun pop album with nothing great and nothing terrible at the same time. Pretty much in the middle.
  16. May 30, 2016
    10
    I don't understand why this had such a low score, when this is easily their best album. The ones after this are just repetitive, and boring (especially Made In The A.M.). The boys really showed growth with this album, it was easily their best era. Songs like "Strong", "Happily", "Story Of My Life", "Right Now" and "You & I" shine on this album.
  17. Jan 24, 2016
    0
    With One Direction I didn't think their albums could get worse but there it is they did and this is shambolic at best. At times this album makes me ashamed to be British and very little achieves that feat.
  18. Nov 15, 2015
    10
    I know most One Direction fans hate this album because it deviated so much from their traditional pop sound but this album was really a turning point for One Direction. Still, I loved it. The band really matured in their style and they didn't have that prim and polished look that most people knew them for on Take Me Home and Up All Night. Plus, this album had a nice rock edge to it.
  19. Nov 13, 2015
    10
    is a really good album, with more maturity from one direction, a set of melodies on vocals, it's amazing the new tactic was in their lives, it's beautiful
  20. Nov 7, 2015
    10
    I didn't like it, i think it is very incomplete, i needed something else in this album. Music very nasty, and boring, I hope that 1D get better as long as the time pass by.
  21. Oct 26, 2015
    10
    melhooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooores idoloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooos do mundoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
  22. Oct 24, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. HINARIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO melhor album da carreira, patrão do Four memso, merecia verde tour, injustiçado do pop Expand
  23. Oct 15, 2015
    2
    Well I just listened to this album because Made in the AM is going to be released soon and I wanted tocheck their style.. al I have to says is that they tried to be rock and they're more pop than Katy Perry. STOP PLEASE. Why the **** are they so popular.. there are better artists, young audience. I hope their new album will be better...
  24. Mol
    Sep 23, 2015
    10
    personally , i think that this album is their best , story of my life , diana , happily , and don't forget where you belong are the best songs in this abum really love it it's a mature sound
  25. Sep 19, 2015
    10
    ESSES CRÍTICOS TEM DEMENCIA ESSE ALBUM É MARAVILHOSO, MELHOR DA CARREIRA, PISA MAIS ONED PISA MAIS, PQP É UM HINARIO TEEN CARALHO, OS VOCAIS TAO PISANDO DEMAIS, AS HIGH NOTE SENHOR JESUS, AMEI MUITO, MAS ODIEI O AMARELO TOUR, EXIJO RECONTAGEM E QUERO +70 PRA AGORA
  26. Aug 1, 2015
    10
    Best Song Ever: The song is fun, the vocals are sharp (Zayn's 7 second high note) but it possesses none of the individuality found later in the album. There's a sense of nostalgia, one day "I hope you'll remember how we danced..." is going to mean a lot.

    Story Of My Life: Everyone sounds fantastic, all five contributed to the writing. All the boys sell the downbeat lyrics. Liam
    Best Song Ever: The song is fun, the vocals are sharp (Zayn's 7 second high note) but it possesses none of the individuality found later in the album. There's a sense of nostalgia, one day "I hope you'll remember how we danced..." is going to mean a lot.

    Story Of My Life: Everyone sounds fantastic, all five contributed to the writing. All the boys sell the downbeat lyrics. Liam sounds particularly convincing midway through, Louis sounds equal parts forlorn and wistful. The closing notes show how talented they all are.

    Diana - An odd 80s throwback. Sounds a bit too like Take On Me and since the band has revealed the song is about someone specific, but won't say who, the relatable factor is missing.

    Midnight Memories - you can listen to the band recording this if you search youtube, they definitely didn't mean to rip off Def Leppard. Oops. The song is Best Song Ever II, fun, safe, goofy. Zayn hits another golden high note and Niall shows surprising strength. Check out the X Factor USA performance.

    You and I - the quintessential 1D ballad and Zayn high note. Sounds like Avril's I'm With You in that it allows silence to also play an important role in creating tension and mood. As with their Four album track Ready to Run, it's easy to view this as a possible queer anthem. "We don't wanna be like them/They see things in a different light like us/They never tried like us" Not saying it is, not saying it isn't.

    Don't Forget - another song that probably relates more to 1Ds own personal journey but this one is better than Diana, more universal. A standout track when performed live, probably because it's about being on tour, millions of miles from home.

    Strong - a universal fan favourite for many reasons. Louis and Liam wrote it but another songwriter specified that Louis's specific intention was to go against the standard of men not being openly honest about emotion. "I'm sorry if I say I need you/But I don't care/I'm not scared of love/There's nothing I'm running from/You make me strong". A beautiful love song Louis and Liam should be proud of for presenting to a legion of female fans who are constantly criticized for loving them and for a world that never lets men just be who they are.

    Happily - the song sounds like happiness should but listen closely. "We were meant to be but a twist of fate/Made it so we had to walk away". The narrator is asking his love to reconsider after leaving for someone else. If they get together, then they will simply "be, so happily". Folksy high energy track, sounds like I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons.

    Right Now - another "life on the road" song. Written with Ryan Tedder, he does well to construct that airy rock One Republic feel within the 1D sound. Louis sounds wonderfully unusual at the beginning and Liam hits beautiful high notes. Sometimes it's hard to critique their songs when everyone is so on point!

    Little Black Dress - You can't tell me Mick Jagger hasn't secretly strutted around his dressing room to this one. Pure rock, not a hint of pop here. A deliberately repetitive jam session about a hot gal. The highlight is the band having a blast in the background with screams, orgasmic groans and general ad-libs. So much fun.

    Through The Dark - a carefully written song about helping someone through depressive symptoms. It's about pulling someone through their own darkness, not by being their hero but by being there as they ride it out themselves. Perfectly shows how 1D manages to sound honest with lyrics that'd be condescending sung by a band that didn't care the way they do.

    Something Great - I was initially unimpressed. As it lyrically moped about with Harry drawling "is it too much to ask for something great?" I kept wondering "What's missing here?" There was a spark, a charm, a power that is just not on the majority of the track. That is, until he suddenly shows up for the song's twist ending: Louis. Louis is absent for the entire song until the final two lines and, I'm just gonna say it, he is framed as the person Harry is singing to. For all the rumors out there about Harry and Louis, the band themselves might've given it the most fuel for the fire yet.

    Little White Lies - the problem with a group of men writing about sex is sometimes things can get lost in translation. I can tell by the yearning vocal performances and the epic slamming dubstep death drop that this is supposed to come across as an "I want you so bad" bonanza. Instead it's kinda creepy. "You wanna set some rules/Cool, we'll watch them break tonight". YIKES. Lyrically, the song doesn't work. Everything does in spades though.

    Better Than Words - The highlight is the lyrics. Liam came up with the idea to create a song from other song titles. It's about indescribably good sex, so good they need to use other people's words to get to the point. Creative! Sounds like a bubbly Max Martin-esque production. An odd choice for album closer.

    Overall a solid album 8/10.
    Expand
  27. Jul 25, 2015
    6
    It's honestly not as bad as I expected, but it's also nothing particularly special. I'm no fangirl/boy but I am also no hater. I can take it for what it is, a fun pop album with nothing great and nothing terrible at the same time. Pretty much in the middle.
  28. Jun 15, 2015
    1
    eard. They're nothing more than 5 Justin Bieber's and they will never get to the level of previous boys bands they're obviously copying like Backstrehjjjjj
  29. Jun 11, 2015
    0
    in one word : Alive Catastrophe. I don't think any music can get worse. WOW oh my god this is so bad. Soooo Bad. First I have to say that I despise boy bands in general but that is not because I think this is sooo bad. It's because it's 0 artistry. full of terrible lyrics. no direction and point. Just a bunch of songwriters and composers trying to compile a bunch of stupid lyrics andin one word : Alive Catastrophe. I don't think any music can get worse. WOW oh my god this is so bad. Soooo Bad. First I have to say that I despise boy bands in general but that is not because I think this is sooo bad. It's because it's 0 artistry. full of terrible lyrics. no direction and point. Just a bunch of songwriters and composers trying to compile a bunch of stupid lyrics and catchy tunes to temptate girls and women. A band (?) that does not even write their music and a group of performers that produce utter sh*t. Wow I am devastated. this was utter musical disaster. Expand
  30. May 4, 2015
    1
    Katy Perry bursts back onto the scene with her amazing second album that is full to the grim of the tongue-in-cheek atmosphere that got herkhkkjhjghjbnnnnn
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 15
  2. Negative: 2 out of 15
  1. Apr 22, 2014
    40
    Midnight Memories takes the slight progression of Take Me Home and demolishes it.
  2. Dec 2, 2013
    50
    They joyfully plunder rock riffs and hip-hop beats, but a logjam of lousy ballads suggests Bryan Adams embodies their ideal of maturity.
  3. Dec 2, 2013
    20
    If maturing means 14 (regular edition) tracks of footy-stadium-worthy anthemic choruses ad nauseam, I don’t want 1-D to grow up.