I had fun reading this. Who cares if it's just news-adjacent.

Cincinnati style is the best style. Nay, the only style. Now I'm hungry.

I thought it did lead directly to the govt stepping in. Plus the irony of killing the debunker with the very evidence that could have made him a believer.

My show-watching mates said the same thing!

Dammit, I was trying to edit my comment, not delete it. My ancient 32 years are really showing.

They really sound like a band here, not different five guys who sing.

I can say with absolute certainty, their fifth album is no BB Mak. (What an endorsement!)

I think it's also a way of trying to trivialize the artists. Inventing beef where there is no beef. For example, it happens to female artists (musicians *and* actresses) all the time, even though there's no actual feud/competition. :-/

I agree there about "Perfect." Again, I think it's probably because the Taylor angle makes it more enticing, marketing-wise. I think that all — but particularly the first three — bonus tracks are all really strong and wish they were on the proper release. "Wolves" could be a good single too.

Haha WHOOPS missed the second half of your post. I also liked them as a guilty pleasure, but then realized there is nothing wrong with liking something just because it's fun (Within reason, I'm not drowning puppies as a pasttime over here). I also firmly believe that there are a bunch of 1D songs you could play for an…

I don't mind "Perfect." Am I missing something? I figure it gets mentioned a lot because people have been waiting for a Taylor track, esp since she wrote nearly a whole album about Harry. To me, "End of the Day" is the real stinker. But I'd also suggest "If I Could Fly." Just a really pretty song.

I'm 32 and mostly listen to dour indie stuff, but I love 1D. People look at me like I'm crazy when I say that, so I usually keep my mouth shut. ;-)

Dunno about "Drag," but "Temporary Fix" is on the deluxe version, which I don't think the critics used for review.

So agree about the misogyny in pop comment. I'd say that has sometimes made 1D's lyrical content a little boring, but I still love how positive they are. :)

I like this song and a lot of Radiohead, but I agree with everything he's saying here. I love his defense of pop, teen girl culture, the tyranny of "those guys." Love it. Thanks.

I'm tired of people saying how music is meant to be "consumed." That's an entirely personal thing, even if it comes with a load of packaging. One Direction is a bunch of baby men (relative to my own age) and there's no attraction and I don't buy all their merch and I've never seen the X-Factor. All I know is that…

I agree about them all being equal when I was a kid, though that might have come from spending so much time with the cartoon and toys. As an adult I realize how he got screwed, which is really too bad considering he did a lot with the funny but limited material they gave him. Damn I'd love to know what a Ghostbusters…

Winston forever.

Thanks for all the recaps through the years. I'll miss them!

I never even thought about Kyle Secor! My hopes were instantly raised and then dashed on an entirely hypothetical scenario (also, I have been watching A LOT of Homicide lately).