YAB Review: ‘Up All Night’ By One Direction

We probably sound like a broken record saying that boy bands are back, but it’s true as male pop groups including the British band One Direction are topping the charts, selling out concerts, and producing record-breaking albums. If you don’t know the teen-friendly quintet already, you will soon since their first album, “Up All Night,” debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 in its first week, making One Direction the first UK group ever to reach the top spot with their first album! Moreover, the boys’ first single will be featured on “Glee,”they’re performing on “SNL” this weekend, and this is only the beginning for them as Youth Advisory Board member (and super fan) Jordan explains…

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YAB Review: ‘Up All Night’ by One Direction

These five adorable (read: HOT) boys from England and Ireland (adorableness AND accents? Sold!) formed the band One Direction after each auditioning solo for Britain’s The X Factor, but then were combined as a group and finished third in the competition. Their huge following prompted them to release a single “What Makes You Beautiful” that peaked at #1 in the UK and won Best British Single at this year’s Brit Awards. Now the band is taking over the states world with their hit album, “Up All Night.” Despite Rolling Stone giving it a dismal 2.5 stars, I actually loved it! It’s now become my pump-up, work-out music, as well as my lullaby with several beautiful slow ballads. From the range of the songs to the catchy lyrics and melodies, combined with the groups’ good looks and charm, “Up All Night” is an album that I’ll be listening to for a long time.

What was the biggest draw? Are you a fan?

Full disclosure, I am a complete boy band fanatic. My first concert and favorite band was The Backstreet Boys…I still have a glow stick from their Into the Millennium tour somewhere. Since then, I have become a huge Jonas Brothers groupie (I celebrate my five year Jonas-versary this year) as well as an Allstar Weekend fan. So I am generally a fan of boy bands, and when I saw all of my fellow JBJs (Jonas Brothers Junkies) suddenly becoming “Directioners,” I knew I had to take a listen. And let’s just say, I’m a big fan now! (P.S. Email me, Liam!)

How did you buy the album?
I downloaded it from iTunes, as I do with all of my other music.

What were you expecting? How did it measure up?
I wasn’t really expecting the pop sound and thought it would be more in the R&B style of “the Biebs,” but this was no disappointment! I was thoroughly impressed with the songs, which were stuck in my head for hours afterwards, and I thought the instrumentals were great (although they don’t play their own instruments like my beloved Jonas Brothers!)

Favorite tracks?
I absolutely LOVE “Stole My Heart”! It’s a techno song but with really sweet lyrics, so I find myself listening to it on repeat. It’s even my alarm!

The first single, “What Makes You Beautiful,” — which beat out Adele for a BRIT award — is wonderful too. Definitely give it a listen, and listen closely for the cowbell. It always puts a smile on my face.

My favorite ballad is “More Than This,” as I really like acoustic songs; this one combines the guitar with some soft sounds. The lyrics are great too.

Overall? Live show?
I think this was a wonderful debut from One Direction, and I’m so hyped to see what they come up with next. Definitely buy it and give it a chance. I see girls liking this album more than guys given the nature of boy bands, but it’s a fun, feel-good album nonetheless.

I am really depressed that I can’t make it to their concert in my hometown, but hopefully I can score some tickets for a neighboring city and make it a road trip!

One Direction is moving in ONE DIRECTION — straight up the charts! Don’t miss “Up All Night”!

Jordan Orris

Jordan, 17, is an aspiring political writer, blogger, and analyst. She is a senior in high school, and has been published in The Las Vegas Sun. Jordan’s most significant accomplishment was serving as a United States Senate Page for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the Summer of 2010. She served the State of Nevada as Miss Nevada’s Outstanding Teen in 2009, making state-wide appearances to gubernatorial and mayoral offices, civic organizations, philanthropies, and schools. Her personal platform during her year reign was SERVE: Sacrifice, Empathy, Relationships, Values, and Empowerment, and she has advocated community service programs to members of the Nevada State Legislature. Jordan also founded her school’s first online literary publication, GVoice, which receives hundreds of hits each day, and is a creative outlet for literary expression at her high school.