One Direction — or as I like to now call the band, Four White Guys, due to the absence of Zayn Malik since March — released their fifth studio album titled “Made in the A.M.” on Nov. 13.

This will be the group’s last album before it takes a long hiatus as a result of its past five years of constant touring and album releases. This break is long overdue, and as much as I hate to admit it, parts of the album show it.

The album opens up with the song “Hey Angel,” which displays similar vibes to The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony.” It’s one of my favorite songs on the album because of its rock-like vibe as well as Harry Styles’ solo during the chorus. _swoon_

You start to see the album follow the style of folk-rock songs that were in the previous album “Four.” Tracks like “Never Enough” and “Olivia” are songs you’d listen to around a campfire with your friends near the end of summer. “Olivia” itself is very Beatles-like with its use of an acoustic guitar throughout the song.

If you’re interested in a good cry, the song “If I Could Fly,” written by Styles, fits the bill. As I continue to listen to the song, it constantly reminds me of the first 30 seconds of “Live and Let Die” by The Wings with its steady single use of piano keys.

Then again, if you just want to cry just because a song is so awful, give “End of the Day” a spin. The verses don’t follow the chorus at all, and the entire melody of the song changes when the chorus comes around, leaving you wondering if Kidz Bop produced it. The song also features a Louis Tomlinson solo we really didn’t need or want to listen to.

One of the highest points of the album besides “Hey Angel” is “What a Feeling,” written by Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne, which highly resembles a Fleetwood Mac tune. The song features the same drum beat we have come to know in some of Fleetwood Mac’s songs such as “Dreams” and “Seven Wonders,” yet what makes the song is the harmonies shared between the group during the chorus.

As One Direction fan for the past five years, I’m satisfied but not blown away. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always rooting for One Direction, but “Made In the A.M.” feels forced and unwanted. Hopefully, the break that awaits One Direction will give the group’s members time to properly grow not only as individuals but also in their musical inspiration.

_MOVE gives “Made In the A.M.” three and a half out of five stars._