Courtesy of santabanta.com
One Direction is making this a day for their fans. The fivesome just announced the release of their new album. Four will arrive faster than anyone expected the new project: November 17.
The guys made the announcement via a video they released to YouTube this morning. “You guys have always been there for us, you’re the reason we get to do this job every day,” they say to/of fans, “and you mean the world to us.” They proceeded to proclaim a surprise to accompany the news: a single is already available. The track is called “Fireproof,” and it’s only downloadable today, September 8th. Fans who go to the band’s page right now can get it with one click. But those who don’t make it in time shouldn’t be too dismayed – the successful fans will probably have it all over the web for free listening by tomorrow.
The track itself is less pop-sugary than their previous hits (like “Live While We’re Young”), while not leaning hard into Mumford and Sons imitation (as “Story of My Life” kinda sorta did). “Fireproof” is simple and melodic, with the nice touch in the vocals section (plenty of background “aahs”) to carry the main chords. If anything, it’s a bit like pre – X Ed Sheeran.
Member Niall Horan has been building anticipation via Twitter. Last week he said, “Can’t wait for you guys to hear and see what we’re doing!” Yesterday, he announced that Four is his fav: “Just listening to tracks from the new album… This is exciting ! Really can’t wait for you to hear this album! By far my favorite yet.”
The English-Irish pop boy band has seen plenty of success since the day they auditioned for The X Factor in 2010. Their documentary last year, “One Direction: This Is Us” was a box office hit. Four is the fourth of a steady release of albums, starting with 2011’s Up All Night and followed by 2012’s Take Me Home and 2013’s Midnight Memories. The group is currently on their “Where We Are” Tour, the third tour since their founding. It will run through October 2014, and a concert movie will be limitedly released in theaters thereafter. So far, the tour has raised £600,000 for charity Stand Up To Cancer.