Cuteness-wise, One Direction make all the other boy bands look like hunchbacks who should've never been let out of the bell tower. That lets them get over as little more than bland song conduits. Their second album rivals the best of Backstreet and 'N Sync when the material pumps (power-pop sure shots like "Kiss You," "Back for You" and the Clash-biting "Live While We're Young," written by masters like Shellback and Rami Yacoub). But when it doesn't (i.e., most of the ballads), a certain amount of douchiness creeps in: "You still have to squeeze into your jeans, but you're perfect to me," one of them sings on "Little Things." Hey, buddy, you're a millionaire: Buy her some loose jeans.

Listen to 'Take me Home'

“Youth Knows No Pain”

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”