Playlist: One Direction, plus 10 more
For their second single from the forthcoming Midnight Memories album, the British lads trade in their effervescent anthems for Story of My Life, a melancholy folk-pop tune that places them squarely in Mumford & Sons/Phillip Phillips territory. But not even a string of failed romances can keep them down: "Although I am broken," they sing, "my heart is untamed still." -- Brian Mansfield
THE PLAYLIST
USA TODAY music critic Brian Mansfield highlights 10 intriguing tracks found in the week's listening.
Young Love, Kip Moore
Moore sounds less like Sonny James than a moody Bon Jovi, but he leaves no doubt this love is filled with true devotion.
All the Love You Got, Diane Birch
Bible Belt, from 2009, established Birch's songwriting chops. New album Speak a Little Louder brings out her goth-pop side.
Trouble is as Trouble Does, Striking Matches
Sarah Zimmerman and Justin Davis are among TV show Nashville's go-to song sources. They're even better when they do the singing.
Hard as This, Lindi Ortega
Spaghetti-western guitars haunt this Canadian singer's other-side-of-Nashville tale of tortured love.
Sounds Like Somewhere, Lily & Madeleine
Indiana teen sisters bring lovely harmonies and folk-like simplicity to the lead track from their first album, out this week.
Like the Sun, Lily Kershaw
Everything goes away, Kershaw sings delicately, but that's no excuse to treat people like they're already gone.
Stripes, Brandy Clark
Clark has big buzz after writing for Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban. Her single's country for Orange is the New Black fans.
Let's Go There, Brothers Osborne
Escapist country songs often lift hip-hop beats these days, but T.J. and John Osborne go for old-fashioned country funk.
Capo 4th Fret, Brian Fallon
Gaslight Anthem frontman poignantly covers the late No Use for a Name frontman on new The Songs of Tony Sly tribute album.
Not Afraid to Die, Marshall Chapman
Veteran Nashville rocker "did everything I could to die young" despite fate's plans, a superb Blaze of Glory album among them.