Four
by One Direction
User Score
6.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 388 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 248 out of 388
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 388
  3. Negative: 114 out of 388
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  1. All_ButTrU4
    Jan 25, 2022
    2
    most emotional release even before the context of this being the final album with the full lineup. they abandon the bubblegum pop for adult contemporary sounds, the guitars are rarely electric and pianos more common. the writing is finally notable in some parts like the ed sheeran indept ''18'' or ''fools gold'', ''night changes'' is a fun remuneration on the unavoidable change inmost emotional release even before the context of this being the final album with the full lineup. they abandon the bubblegum pop for adult contemporary sounds, the guitars are rarely electric and pianos more common. the writing is finally notable in some parts like the ed sheeran indept ''18'' or ''fools gold'', ''night changes'' is a fun remuneration on the unavoidable change in relationships. their most serious album makes a case for what could have been… Expand
  2. WellitonCarlos
    Jan 8, 2022
    10
    Great album! The kids have great voice and show good maturity comparing with another albuns
  3. EVERLEDIS
    Apr 14, 2021
    10
    i love one direction, i love one direction, i love one directiooooooooooooooooooooon
  4. Vanyagranderia
    Mar 29, 2021
    9
    What else can you say about this album? - A masterpiece....................
  5. Sarah_malik
    Nov 29, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Four album is definitely the one direction best album is the album has all the geners of song's and shows the power of the vocal and lyrics of 1D song's… Expand
  6. brockcheese
    Aug 31, 2020
    7
    This album is an improvement over the last as they evolve both their sound and lyrical content. Instead of focusing on just the one girl they crave they delve into slightly more interesting ideas.
  7. DriaWoods
    Jan 27, 2020
    3
    After hearing their first 3 albums, this one was very underwhelming. There are some good songs on here but the album as a whole isn’t great. It lacks quality control. Most of these tracks could have been written and produced better than it was. (Once In a Lifetime, Spaces, Ready To Run, Fireproof, Change Your Ticket & Act My Age are just prime examples. There’s more though.) The band wasAfter hearing their first 3 albums, this one was very underwhelming. There are some good songs on here but the album as a whole isn’t great. It lacks quality control. Most of these tracks could have been written and produced better than it was. (Once In a Lifetime, Spaces, Ready To Run, Fireproof, Change Your Ticket & Act My Age are just prime examples. There’s more though.) The band was very busy when recording this album so it’s understandable why it didn’t sound as good as their previous work. FOUR was rushed & not taken seriously, period. The label clearly just wanted something out there a year after their 3rd album for money purposes, not caring how it comes out. (Most Directioners will buy anything even if they don’t like it, including me so they won with that) Masterpieces take time to make. You can’t just spit things out just to have something out. Sometimes spitting things out works but not all the time. Like I said, there’s good songs on here but nothing great. It just lacks quality control.… Expand
  8. mandstyles
    Dec 7, 2019
    10
    É incrível a evolução que temos nas musicas e albuns da one direction ao longo dos anos
  9. bandtrash
    Feb 16, 2017
    6
    One Direction after 4 years in musical industry. This album seriously shows that they really matured over the years. We're still sticking with love theme here but there's more in this. This album sure isn't as bad as half of people act it is. Okay, it's not a masterpiece but it sure has a lot to show and it's vocally great.
  10. LipeFireworks
    Feb 13, 2017
    9
    Morto com esse hinario, melhor album dos reis, Hinos com 18, Fireeproof amoooo, Steal My Girl lixo sonoro ignorem amores, guarda no fandom, amém Four te amo
  11. lewisgittins
    Jan 17, 2017
    0
    COMPLETE RIP OFF!! Prime example is "change your ticket". The guitar riff is practically identical to "Girls" by The 1975!! They need to start writing origional music instead of ripping off everyone else. Not amused.
  12. victorcarter
    Nov 21, 2016
    6
    It's their most mature album to date, which could suggest something more worth the while in their future. knocking that potentiality aside however, its still an album short of anything particularly new and perhaps, in addition to churning out albums literally one after the other, Four feels somewhat similar to their previous work in some aspects as it simply feels incomplete and overrated.
  13. lUcOzAdExx
    Jun 23, 2016
    10
    this is one direction best album in my opinion, the work that they put into this album it's amazing. Their vocals are great and the production too, they deserve the success of this. people say that they are a "bad, manufacturaded, poor, sh*tty band", but please, one day, listen carefully to one of the albums, maybe you can enjoy one song, don't follow people stereotypes, look for your ownthis is one direction best album in my opinion, the work that they put into this album it's amazing. Their vocals are great and the production too, they deserve the success of this. people say that they are a "bad, manufacturaded, poor, sh*tty band", but please, one day, listen carefully to one of the albums, maybe you can enjoy one song, don't follow people stereotypes, look for your own way to watch the world.… Expand
  14. Jiano74
    Jan 24, 2016
    1
    This is a slight and I mean very slight improve on the previous I wish I could score it 0.5 as it wasn't as bad as the previous but not good enough for a 1 so I settled for a score of 1 because it wasn't bad enough for a 0.
  15. BeatrizLima
    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, i'ts beautiful
  16. Samimacedo
    Nov 12, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. HINARIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO segundo melhor album da carreira, pisem mais reis… Expand
  17. lindoncemars
    Nov 9, 2015
    10
    O que falar sobre os novos Beatles? A cada album se firmando cada vez mais na musica e se tornar um dos maiores grupos de todos os tempos. Desde o começo da carreira ouço que a carreira deles acabaria no ano seguinte e já estão indo pro 5º album. Parece que o jogo virou n eh msm?
  18. kielytenhope
    Nov 5, 2015
    9
    One Direction are an English-Irish pop boy band featuring Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Niall Horan. In 2010, the band signed with Simon Cowell’s record label Syco Records after placing third in the British television show The X factor. Their most recent album, Four, released November 17, 2014 contains a different kind of sound from the band. Every November since 2011,One Direction are an English-Irish pop boy band featuring Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Niall Horan. In 2010, the band signed with Simon Cowell’s record label Syco Records after placing third in the British television show The X factor. Their most recent album, Four, released November 17, 2014 contains a different kind of sound from the band. Every November since 2011, One Direction puts out a new record, making it a perfect gift for the upcoming holidays. The band’s previous albums contain predominantly pop music; Four has been called “saturated with retro vibes” by Rolling Stone. Payne claimed this record to be much “edgier” than what they are used to. This edgy record sold over 3.2 million copies in 2014.
    The album includes use of different instruments and sounds. This album is hard to dislike; it’s catchy and upbeat and makes you want to jump around. The album was placed at number eleven on Cosmopolitan‍ 's list of "The 20 Best Albums of 2014”. Jessica Goodman and Ryan Kistobak of The Huffington Post included the album on their list of 2014's best releases, claiming that "2014 will forever be known as the year that we realized One Direction was actually, dare we say, good.” Many well known artists were brought in to assist One Direction in writing the album such as The 1975, John Legend and Emeli Sandé. While listening to the beginning of the track “Change Your Ticket” (only available on the deluxe version of the album) for the first time many would be almost sure they are listening to a song by The 1975. Although many tracks do sound similar to previous albums by the band, “Act My Age” has a folk music sort of sound to it. “Stockholm Syndrome” has a similar sound to girl band HAIM, an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. Also, tracks such as “Fools Gold,” “Night Changes” and “Fireproof” have a much slower rhythm to them, unlike “Clouds,” “Spaces,” and “No Control” which have a lot going on during the chorus and make you want to turn your headphones all the way up. Of course the release of Four meant another tour soon to come.
    The album is extremely catchy and hard to resist, hard to dislike whether you are a fan of the band or not. This record contains a new sound from the band, and a new beginning.    … Expand
  19. ThatOneReviewa
    Oct 29, 2015
    4
    "Four" has definitely showed that the group has matured since their debut album. Sure, the only subject is love, but this album isn't as bad as other boy band albums, and it certainly didn't give anyone AIDS, like most people act like it did. I'd call this album half-decent. And also, I don't blame Zayn for leaving. Listening to screaming teenage girls for 5 years can really tire you out.
  20. directionlovato
    Oct 17, 2015
    10
    melhor boyband do mundo sim gente, nao gostou manda spam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  21. mayfurtado
    Oct 16, 2015
    10
    Muito mais maduro e cheio de hinos. Eles são muito talentosos e merecem tudo o que conquistaram. Melhor álbum deles só não ve quem não quer, que venham mais e mais álbuns depois desse.
  22. sincestyles
    Oct 9, 2015
    10
    REIS MESMO, PISA COM FORÇAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA PISAM EM UNS PISOU NOS HATERS PISOU EM TUDO MELHOR ALBUM DA CARREIRA SO NAO VE QUEM NAO QUER GENTE PISA MESMO
  23. Mad-Hatter
    Sep 11, 2015
    5
    Four = Midnight Memories = Take Me Home = Up All Night.
    Four albums, the four albums are just the same, they singing about love girls and I feel very dessapointed with it. However, the production is brilliant.
  24. writenow
    Jul 28, 2015
    10
    You have an idea of what One Direction's music is right now and it's 100% wrong. Get ready for introspective, reflective, brutal honesty about carnal lust, hollow love, and the trappings of one's own flaws. Whether you realise it or not, you're underestimating One Direction. Time to change your mind.

    Steal My Girl - The safe first single. Anthemic, warm, uninspired. Odd choice to    You have an idea of what One Direction's music is right now and it's 100% wrong. Get ready for introspective, reflective, brutal honesty about carnal lust, hollow love, and the trappings of one's own flaws. Whether you realise it or not, you're underestimating One Direction. Time to change your mind.

    Steal My Girl - The safe first single. Anthemic, warm, uninspired. Odd choice to have a singalong chorus paired with choppy, speak-sing verses. Niall sounds great (for his two seconds) and Harry's bridge is heartfelt and delicate. Some great falsetto from Zayn at the end.

    Ready To Run - Uplifting tune about strength and triumph. Great workout track. Verses are straightforward vocally, the lyrics are intriguing. Gotta say, this definitely sounds like a coming out anthem, particularly Louis's verse (the band member who the gay rumours persist about even now)

    Where Do Broken Hearts Go - this massive guitar-led tune is LOUD and has a lot to say. Written by Harry, it documents the realisation that dumping someone without warning isn't nice. Once you burn someone, they don't always wanna hear from you again. Harry's gonna keep trying, anyway. Niall is on point here, handling the first verse with ease. Louis steals the show at the end, his higher voice storming over the clashing guitars.

    18 - An understated ballad written by 1D BFF Ed Sheeran, Niall sounds like him in parts. The lyrics suit 1D's journey, documenting a quick growing up and a desire to reflect on shared memories. Louis is the highlight, utilized as an emotional punch in the face, his voice so heartfelt, one can only imagine the memories that rush to the minds of these incredibly famous young men during the thousand year pause after "I have loved you since we were 18...."

    Girl Almighty - the lyrics sound nonsensical but what sells them is the genuine performances. They mean every word. This is a love letter to the mass of young women who made them the biggest band in the world. "There's something happening here/I hope you feel what I'm feeling too" sounds like recognition of a revolution and "Let's have another toast to the girl almighty" sounds like acknowledgement of the empire fans created around them. The energy and lively, fun arrangement are the stars here.

    Fool's Gold - this supposed "boy band" put an easy listening ballad on their album - and it works. The lyrical content is deep, Harry documents relationship dysfunction, willingly believing in empty love because it's better than nothing. Niall sounds heavenly, the standouts are Zayn accurately portraying conscious misery, then Harry comes through with a sharp "Yes I let you use me" and the clear narrative is "I know I'm wrong, I should do better by myself - I just don't want to". Interesting, gritty stuff.

    Night Changes - Liam is in top form and everyone sounds comfortable. A song you have to be in a specific mood for. If you're melancholy, perfect. Follows similar theme to 18, the boys clearly reflected on how quickly they've grown up, people in their early 20s often start looking back while moving forward.

    No Control - LOUIS. A filthy, breathless ode to sexual frustration that powers along like a car without brakes. Louis leads the blazing chorus into the depths of horny despair along with crunchy guitars and sharp hand claps. Harry drawls his hot descriptive lyrics with such authenticity you know he's been in the positions described many times. Damn!

    Fireproof - Ask fans what this song means and you get fond noises, hands on hearts, dreamy smiles and "It's...FIREPROOF". The band released it as a free gift, it exists on its own, the universal favourite, the untouchable. Like Girl Almighty, it could be about the fan/band relationship. As everyone says, boy bands aren't built to last. But this one did. How? Who knows? Maybe they're fireproof. Musically and vocally, this sounds like a warm hug from an old friend.

    Spaces - the song that made everyone realise someone was halfway gone. Great vocally, very depressing lyrically. Pain is essential to growing up, doesn't make it any easier. Zayn, Harry and Niall on point here.

    Stockholm Syndrome - 1D channels Tears for Fears and documents falling for someone when you were really only planning on staying the night. Liam is the highlight, his beautiful falsetto bringing a beautifully written bridge to life. Should've been a single.

    Clouds - the album closes with a huge bang. This is 1D meets Jimmy Eat World and it storms around but never quite leaves jam session status. Everyone is vocally strong enough to carry it to a certain height but a few voices lose their individuality in the monotony of the verses. The harmonies in the bridge and Harry's five hour vocal runs are the highlights. Exhaustingly fun way to finish a truly superb album.    … Expand
  25. Rosaria88
    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
  26. WezzTBC
    Jun 2, 2015
    0
    Please murder me now!!!!!!!!!!! this album is just a crime to music, and the only reason their successful is because teenage girls like fingering themselves while they listen to this album, the ordering is all wrong, the songs are just the same as the past 3 albums which are just about how much they love and respect girls (which they don't). The sooner these guys go the better so we canPlease murder me now!!!!!!!!!!! this album is just a crime to music, and the only reason their successful is because teenage girls like fingering themselves while they listen to this album, the ordering is all wrong, the songs are just the same as the past 3 albums which are just about how much they love and respect girls (which they don't). The sooner these guys go the better so we can finally get some good music on the radio instead on the toyboy Harry Styles.… Expand
  27. Clubsocial
    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
  28. matheusbrigida
    Apr 24, 2015
    10
    The best album, I'm so excited to the next album without Zayn. This is my second favorite album. No control, Where Do Brokn Hearts Go, Once in a Lifetime, Ready to run and Fireproof are the best musics
  29. AnalyDewa
    Apr 24, 2015
    1
    Muito ruim! Cada vez que ouço ''Steal My Girl'', sinto vontade de me jogar contra a parede. Ao menos minhas orações estão fazendo efeito e parece que o prazo de validade deste grupo já passou!
  30. AdelebestTaylor
    Apr 24, 2015
    10
    From a distance you see it's not their best album, but we see a revolution by the band, leaving your comfort zone (bubblegum pop) and going to a Folk, just wish every success for these magnificent guys: D
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2014
60
#60 Most Shared Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Pretty Much Amazing
    Dec 1, 2014
    42
    What’s unfortunate is that songs the group co-wrote are the weakest ones here. The exception is the aforementioned lead single, a Journey-inspired ballad that’s catchy regardless of how much my instincts demand instant dismissal. The other slower, anthemic numbers on the album are not nearly as inspired.
    Read full review
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Nov 20, 2014
    67
    [On album's first half] the melodies are sturdy and the lyrics catch. Later, the titles get sillier (''Stockholm Syndrome''), and the guitar-jam vibe turns as dull as every real-life guitar jam. But when Four ends, your ears are guilt-free.
    Read full review
  3. Spin
    Nov 20, 2014
    70
    Four [is] the most consisting-sounding Direction album yet.
    Read full review
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