Rate: 4 stars

With three best-selling albums, millions of Twitter and Instagram followers and over 15o awards, One Direction has ruled the music world since their debut.

Their fourth album Four was released on Nov. 17 and has been in the top five albums on iTunes since.

This album was announced in September along with the release of the audio for “Fireproof,” one of the new songs from the album.

To prevent their album being leaked early, as it has been twice before, the boys released seven songs for those that pre-ordered the album including the single “Steal My Girl.” However, this preemptive strike against fangirl hackers was unsuccessful. Four was leaked album number three.

But the leak doesn’t change the album’s rich quality.

Simon Cowell’s five boys from X Factor aren’t boys anymore. Four is chock-full of songs that demonstrate a new level of maturity only hinted at in previous albums. In many ways, Midnight Memories, the boys’ last album, was a precursor for the unique songs of Four.

Songs featuring their typical boy band sound are rare compared to previous albums, making this album that much better. It’s uncommon to find an album with every song as catchy and beautiful as the last, but Four is this album.

It’s obvious this new maturity is influenced by other popular artists. One song called “18” is written by Ed Sheeran. Like Sheeran’s own songs, the sound is minimal. Poetic lyrics are accompanied by simplistic plucking of guitar strings.

“Change Your Ticket” sounds more like The 1975. The guitarist on the track might as well be The 1975’s own Matt Healy.

However, 12 of the songs are written by at least one of the boys, making the album more personable and genuine.

Possibly the best quality of the album is the equality of solos. Each boy has solos that showcase his voice.

As a devoted Directioner, I haven’t taken this album off of repeat all week, and I know other fangirls like me haven’t either. That doesn’t make the case that it’s the best of their albums, but it is. It shows growth. It has depth. If you’re in doubt, check out the audio videos on One Direction’s Vevo on YouTube.

Despite what one track title suggests, the album isn’t “Fool’s Gold.” It’s authentic.