#MadeInTheAM - One Direction: Track-By-Track Album Review

http://harryandmesohappily.tumblr.com/post/129669223470/harry-gemmas-date

I'm not really sure how to begin this post. I'm excited about this album and how good the music is but I'm super sad that the last album before the One Direction sabbatical is actually this good. Like, going out on top is a cool concept but it sure as hell hurts my feelings. Anywayz... let's get this thing started.

1. Hey Angel

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113244123/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-i

(The opening chord of this song sounds like the opening chord of Justin Bieber's "Sorry" and it's majorly freaking me out.) This is a fantastic opening track. However, I'm low key pissed that this hasn't been their "sound" for years. This song has a real Muse/U2 vibe that sounds like the background music on an ESPN TV spot during the NBA Finals. Think Steph Curry raining threes in slow motion. #MajorBuckets

#HeyAngel is the sound they should have had for the last three years. #MadeInTheAM pic.twitter.com/19VWqUq2C4

— The Rules (@RulesForBelles) November 13, 2015

2. Drag Me Down

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113244123/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-i

B A N G E R. The lead single off of this album is my jammmmm. Super strong single. The guitar thing they have going on works SO well.

The guitars on #DragMeDown are like Fleetwood Mac and Iration had a baby and I'm SOOO here for it y'all.

— The Rules (@RulesForBelles) July 31, 2015

And Harry on the second pre-chorus??
n

http://tescotommo.tumblr.com/post/127218360934/x

I want to walk down the aisle at my wedding to that on a loop. Also, this one sounds like an NFL promo. Slow motion tackles for a loss? #PleaseAndThankYou

3. Perfect

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113244123/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-i

Is this the second single? If so, I get why but it's not the second single I would have decided on, Swift call out and all. I love the super chill vibes... this is an all-around fantastic tune. (I don't even need to tell you that I love the subtle Swift jab.)

SHOTS FIRED. #Perfect pic.twitter.com/wvEwU3MbZN

— The Rules (@RulesForBelles) October 16, 2015

It really is perfect for midnight driving with the windows down. Instant classic. Every time I listen, I like it more. The almost inaudible harmonies behind Harry's chorus is fantastic. The video is pretty nice too.

http://holdmetothegroundworld.tumblr.com/post/131696103238

(Also, I love that people are like it's similar to Taylor Swift's "Style" and I'm like... duh. It's exactly the same length. They line up perfectly. It's clearlyyyyy on purpose. Like congrats, you're a detective now... There's even a super perfect mashup to prove it.)

4. Infinity

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113244123/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-i

This song isn't my favorite. It might be because it would be fantastic live and I'm not going to see that. The lyrics are just blah. Ending makes me think of them walking down the runway of their stage going to the B stage where their microphone stands are waiting for them.... Now I'm sad. (This is another sports highlight ending. Sports people, get on this album.)

5. End Of The Day

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113244123/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-i

This song really threw me for a loop. It's like Harry and Niall wrote half of one song and Liam and Louis wrote half of a song and they were like, "Hmm... let's just add them together and see what happens. It could make one really cool song." And I really like each song individually, but together... it's like whiplash. You're riding along and it's a cool song then BAM, new song. AND THEN IT GOES BACK TO THE FIRST SONG. It's so confusing. LIKE, W U T?! (However, Harry's high notes at the end are pretty fantastic and it almost makes up for the schizo vibes.)

6. If I Could Fly

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113244123/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-i

Is this the first true ballad that One Direction has ever recorded? I don't associate with the first album so I'm unsure of what's on it but since then(?) I'm almost sure there hasn't been a true ballad besides Little Things which doesn't really have a ballad feel, does it? It's beautiful. Harry clearly excels at writing in this style, (it's similar in nature to the song he wrote for Ariana Grande- Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart) and it's a truly tender moment. Two lines in and I want to cry. I can't even talk about when the strings come in and they start to finish each other's lines. The lyrics are touching, the arrangement is beautiful and it's so much more touching and impactful than anything we've heard from them before. If I had to play one song to showcase how much they've grown as people and songwriters and musicians, this might be it.

7. Long Way Down

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113244123/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-i

This is the song you play on repeat while you sob on your bathroom floor after you down an entire bottle of red wine during a post-break up mental breakdown. Just like I can't listen to Wonderwall just any old time, I can't listen to this one when I play #MadeInTheAm straight through. Not saying it's their Wonderwall (though it does have an Oasis-y vibe) but it just has that emotional feeling that I'm not equipped to deal with out of nowhere. I also can't listen to Story Of My Life. I don't know, I'm just weird like that, I guess. It's a great song- I just can't listen to it.

8. Never Enough

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113244123/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-i

This might be the best song on the album. It's like Harry looked at Niall and said, "You think you can make Stockholm Syndrome (the best song from the last album) better? Go ahead and try." And Niall said, "You know what it needs? Some Trashin' The Camp from the Tarzan soundtrack vibes." (Clearly, the NSYNC version.)

#NeverEnough is the sleeper hit of #MadeInTheAM. It will be a travesty if this song isn't a single.

— The Rules (@RulesForBelles) November 15, 2015

I don't know how they managed to make this work but it's absolutely fantastic. 10/10 (not a part of One Direction's management team) would make this a single. It's the ultimate "that doesn't sound like One Direction" track. I can't listen to this song just once. I have to listen like a good six or seven times in a row, every single time. This is the One Direction song that my kid will discover while they're in college and be upset that they didn't grow up in the era of such a tuneeeee.

9. Olivia

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113382823/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-ii

Is this the most British sounding non-parody song in existence? It might be. This is 100% the song they would play during the first impression double-decker bus tour of London scene in a Mary-Kate & Ashley movie. Also, am I losing it or is that the Willy freaking Wonka tune after the second chorus?! Seriously, the only way they could make this more British is to have Ed Sheeran in the background playing the Harry Potter theme song... the Penny Lane trumpet vibes make me smile.

10. What A Feeling

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113382823/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-ii

This also might be the best song on the album. (I've gotten multiple messages from my guy friends about this song after I included it in one of my Snapchat stories.)

The legit vibe of this song is: if Stevie Nicks was born in the 90s and grew up listening to NSYNC and Britney Spears and had a Tumblr, this would be the song she released. It's breezy and chill AF. This should ABSOLUTELY be their last single before the hiatus. Can you imagine what a mindf!*k that would be?? Also, when Adam Levine hears this, he is going to be pissed. This is a single Maroon 5 would love to have. For sure.

http://cull3nblaze.tumblr.com/post/112718911182

Randomly, if you told me that this was the song they wrote with #The1975, I would have believed you. No question.

Also, this might be the best, collectively, that One Direction has ever sounded. They all shine on this track.

11. Love You Goodbye

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113382823/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-ii

This song is scandalous. Louis wrote is about his breakup with the most perfect Eleanor Calder (something I will never forgive him for) and it's DEFINITELY an insight into how that relationship ended. Sonically, it is a legit karaoke belter. It's not going to make it karaoke lists until my kids are in college and they will drunkenly sing it off key and never know that it wasn't a single. Ignorance is bliss.

12. I Want To Write You A Song

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113382823/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-ii

The pencil on the paper in the background is a cute touch but it drives me freaking crazy. The track is a borderline lullaby and not my vibe AT ALL. I skip this one too. #NotSorry

13. History

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113382823/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-ii

This song has a Toy Story meets Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay vibe and should 100% play over the credits of The Hangover remake that is inevitably coming in the next 5-10 years with Zac Efron and someone from a vampire TV show. It's got a fun, we're about to graduate and I'm sad but I'm happy and drunk too, vibe- which, I obviously love. This is one of the best songs written this year. Easily.

14. Temporary Fix

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113382823/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-ii

If you take No Control and Little Black Dress and One Way Or Another and mix them all up in a bowl, you'd get Temporary Fix, which is awesome. Pretty upset that I won't see this one live... It makes me feel like Harry has a secret that he is whispering in my ear in the back of a cab and some of they lyrics make me all hot and bothered. This is probably the most rock song on the album and it almost feels nostalgic.

15. Walking In The Wind

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113382823/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-ii

This hits me right in the college feels. When I was a senior in college, I went through an insane Paul Simon faze. You Can Call Me Al will forever be one of my favorite songs and Graceland will forever be one of my favorite albums. Harry (who wrote this song) is right around the same age that I was when I went through my Simon faze and you can tell he is really enthusiastic about this influence.

Walking In The Wind = my Paul Simon/Graceland obsession in college. #MadeInTheAM pic.twitter.com/zlMSkGSBsc

— The Rules (@RulesForBelles) November 13, 2015

The intro made me have a moment of "Is there a Paul Simon song that I haven't heard????" panic. Harry clearly loves singing this song and I think this could be a bit of a hint at what some of his solo stuff will sound like. Roll your windows down when you're in your car in the Spring when you're a couple of months into the hiatus and missing the boys and belt this song.

16. Wolves

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113382823/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-ii

SLEEPER HIT. Make this a freaking single. This has a tailgate/fall band party vibe. You could play this at any tailgate on a football Saturday in the South and you would see sorority girls and fraternity boys dancing with a beer in their hand.

Wolves is a tuneeeeee. #MadeInTheAM pic.twitter.com/oB9wn3cjMq

— The Rules (@RulesForBelles) November 13, 2015

It has a bounce/subtle beach music thing going on. This is one that gets stuck in your head but you don't realize it until you start going "oooOOOoooohhh" three days later...

17. A.M.

http://whippedbyhes.tumblr.com/post/133113382823/made-in-the-am-lyrics-pt-ii

This song makes me feel like a voyeur. To me it seems like a song they wrote to acknowledge/thank their songwriters, producers, touring team, security, touring band, etc. It's their version of Green Day's "Good Riddance" and in a year or two, I'll be able to really love it but right now... I'm sad. However...

Political affiliation: #OneDirection saying, "Talking out of our asses." #MadeInTheAM pic.twitter.com/X8mBZAHq2j

— The Rules (@RulesForBelles) November 13, 2015

http://justwavehello.tumblr.com/post/129334232121

Overall thoughts: I think this is a quintessential representation of who these four boys are as people, as songwriters, as musicians and I'm genuinely proud of them. It's a great album. It's a shame that so many people still write them off as pop trash because they're technically a boy band and the majority of their fans are younger, screaming girls. These songs could come from Maroon 5 or any other band that plays instruments and everyone would be obsessed. Each album has shown so much growth and I have so much excitement inside of me for how much growth they are going to show when they record an album after taking some time off. I hope they enjoy their break, actually take some time out for themselves instead of just recording solo material and come back soon.

"Here's a fantastic album we're not going to tour." #MadeInTheAM pic.twitter.com/O0tP5aCCU2

— The Rules (@RulesForBelles) November 13, 2015

What are your thoughts on #MadeInTheAM? Shoot me a tweet and let me know!!

Hashtag eyeroll: Clemson "storming the field"

Dear people who write/talk about sports for a living, anyone with a Twitter account and the general populace of haters:

I'm sure in your mind, being on the field after college football games is something that is against the rules and reserved for reallyyyyy big wins. And I get it, you are a fan of a school that doesn't welcome fans on the field/have fans that would respect the field/etc.

Clemson is an embarrassment to good college football. Number 1 teams don't storm the field #joke

— Bobby Wyatt (@Bobby_Wyatt) November 8, 2015

You're doing something right when the #1 team is so excited to beat you that they storm the field. #GoNoles

— Al (@alison_vela) November 8, 2015

You're the No. 1-ranked team in the country and you storm the field? Come on, Clemson.

— Andrew O'Brien (@aobrien7) November 7, 2015

Clemson will storm the field for literally anything.

— Kimberlyn Marie (@kimmy_roo93) November 8, 2015

I've been going to Clemson football games since before I could walk and I can't remember a time when we didn't "storm the field" (except for maybe during the 2001 season, following the tragedies of 9/11, honestly, I can't remember). Here's the thing though, at Clemson, it's not called "storming the field," it's called meeting at the Paw to sing the alma mater. 

Growing up, it was so cool to get to go on the field after games, get autographs from players and meet up with friends and family that sat in a different section. Growing up, most kids have the "He's on the 20, the 10, TOUCHDOWN!" imaginary play in their backyard but at Clemson, we got to do it in Death Valley.

This is the only picture I have from the Notre Dame game this year...

I have pictures of me on the field after games from before I could walk to my last home game as a student. I have pictures from losses. I have pictures where the majority of the people on the field were from the other team. It's just a Clemson thing. The field is open. (And it's practical. The easiest/fastest way to get out of the stadium is to walk up The Hill via the field.)

via sbnation.com/ This was after FSU beat us a few years ago. They enjoyed gathering at the paw...

So, by all means, please keep telling us to act like we've won a game before, telling us that it's disgusting that we "stormed the field," and hating, in general. At this point, I have to assume you like your sad, ignorant state of being. 

We'll be here, enjoying our field...

Do player's parents at other schools get to experience this??

Same girl, same.

Enjoy!

-C. xx. 

Sam Hunt is on fire in the Break Up In A Small Town video.

A little over a year ago, a talk drink of bourbon named Sam Hunt came on our radar. He practically kicked us in the face with how attractive he was... a former college quarterback that actually looked like what a Hollywood casting director thought a football player from Georgia would look. And, oh yeah, he can sing, rap/talk and writes killer songs. Like, SIGN. ME. UP.

Lookin' good, @SamHuntMusic! Check him out in @billboard's #MenOfStyle issue! http://t.co/SLO9lVSzK2 pic.twitter.com/mqFSZsJaJO

— UMG Nashville (@UMGNashville) August 21, 2015

Billboard thinks he's country music's version of Drake and I'm SO COOL WITH THAT. I'm a really big fan of the "influenced by hip hop but deeply rooted in the South" vibe he has going on. But the point of this post is his "Break Up In A Small Town" music video. Which is so good.

A couple thoughts on the song first though...

I thought this was his first single... and now a year later, it's his new single? Talk about confused. But, if you've noticed from the plethora of playlists posted on this website, I don't exactly keep up with country radio... regardless, this is easily the best song on his album. EASILY. So whether it's been a single before or it's just now a single, I'm so jazzed. SO JAZZED.

His deep voice sing/talking is so great just to hear but now we get to watch him, too. YESSSS.

So I just took some notes while I was watching the video. Here they are:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/slay-me-sam-hunt#.tiLm1A12P

Don't try to tell me magic doesn't exist. This beard just took him from hot to I'm considering starting a blog about him hot. He looks like Liev Schreiber's smoking hot son. Guys: grow a beard. 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/slay-me-sam-hunt#.tiLm1A12P

The aesthetic of this video is 100% Tumblr meets Georgia, which in my opinion, is fantastic. 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/slay-me-sam-hunt#.tiLm1A12P

But for real- what would Sam Hunt have to do for you to break up with him? Seriously. I don't know the guy personally but I imagine it would take a LOT. #justsaying

http://lovecrookvandalizer.tumblr.com/post/132028819589/october-27th-1-year-of-montevallo

Did homeboy set his house on fire to not have to see his ex and her new downgrade of a boyfriend? Bravo. I can relate to this sentiment on a spiritual level. 

http://soundsofcountry.com/post/131599836602

My new political views are Sam Hunt running in a white t-shirt. Done and done. 

http://samhuntmusic.tumblr.com/post/127664537677/but-theres-only-so-many-streets-so-many-lights

a) I'm SHOCKED his hasn't punched that mirror. b) NECK VEIN. NECK VEIN. NECK VEIN. He has to be one of those guys that when they get mad, their jaw does the thing... #swoon.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/slay-me-sam-hunt#.tiLm1A12P

Is homeboy seriously just casually model walking through this house that's legit in flames?! Can we also talk about how well Mr. Hunt does skinny jeans? Like skinny jeans on Justin Bieber makes him look like a child but skinny jeans on Sam Hunt make him look like a former quarterback/complete smokeshow. It's absolutely fantastic. 

http://thesewordsfromsongs.tumblr.com/post/131673417806/sam-hunt-break-up-in-a-small-town-from

I should've known all along that this boy is hot as hell. This hot as hell 30 year old (as a 25 year old, he is prime age for me to thirst after) is a straight up heartthrob. I'm going to watch this music video another 73 times. KTHNXBAI.

I have more thoughts but no more pictures or gifs so....... that's it, for now.

Enjoy. 

-C. xx.