Us Weekly Entertainment Director Ian Drew reviewed two anticipated music releases: Zayn Malik’s Mind of Mine and Weezer’s latest self-titled release.
Last March, Malik, 23, broke millions of hearts when he announced he was quitting boy band One Direction after five years. “I’m leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight,” he said in a statement at the time. Well, that didn’t last long, as by July he had signed a new solo record deal with RCA. He celebrated his first disc with supermodel girlfriend Gigi Hadid at an album release party in NYC on March 25.
As for stalwart ’90s rock quartet Weezer, they are still very much together after more than 20 years, and in January announced their 10th studio album (aka The White Album) would be an “L.A. beach album.” Dropping this Friday, April 1, the set is inspired by “hanging around the west side of Los Angeles … hanging out with people in Venice and Santa Monica, the beach, the Hare Krishnas, the Sikh on Rollerblades with the guitar, girls on Tinder within a 4 mile radius, seeing other bands, the kids from La Sera” among other things, said 45-year-old frontman Rivers Cuomo in a statement.
Here’s what fans can expect to hear on both new albums:
Zayn Malik
Mind of Mine
3.5 stars (out of 4)
He was right to walk away. Leaving his old One Direction brethren in his dust, Zayn sprints ahead with an alluring solo debut. The adults-only, down-tempo R&B is the perfect framework for the Brit heartthrob’s staggering vocals — and as far away from 1D’s cheery teen pop as you can get. Prize tunes, such as the sexy smash “Pillowtalk” and pulsing “It’s You,” will make you forget that whole boy band thing ever happened.
Weezer
Weezer
3 stars (out of 4)
Swipe right! To gather inspiration for these 10 sunny songs about falling in love in California, happily married Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo joined Tinder (but kept things platonic!). Matching instantly embraceable melodies with churning guitar riffs, he also throws around SAT words such as “cumulonimbus” in lyrics that sound smart without being pretentious. Give the geek a chance.
