One Direction fans have something to scream about with Take Me Home

One Direction's new album will have fans shrieking with joy. Picture: Tony Cutajar. Source: Supplied

THOSE screams you hear in your street are teenage girls finding leaked samples of One Direction's second record Take Me Home.

It was inevitable the album, due for official release on Friday, would get an early preview online and just a day after they debuted their Little Things video.

I scored an exclusive listen to the record on Friday and Australian Directioners will be relieved to find this is exactly the album you wanted - more juiced-up bouncy pop anthems and sing-your-lungs-out ballads and no dramatic musical left turns.

Although there are a couple of surprising rock references.

Live While We're Young

The first of the incongruous rock moments with the opening of the album's first single bearing a striking resemblance to The Clash's Should

I Stay Or Should I Go?

Mum and dad may cringe when they hear "tonight let's get some" or "if we get together don't let the pictures leave your phone".

Kiss You

Sugar-high pop track with the requisite yeahyeahyeahs and nahnahnahs for those concert singalong moments. Has a '90s boy band flavour.

Little Things

This acoustic ballad and current single was written by Ed Sheeran. But it is so Ed Sheeran, it sounds like they are doing a cover rather than making it their own.

C'mon C'mon

Their go at an anthemic dance number is a bit of a clunky fit.

Last First Kiss

Fans will seriously swoon at this acoustically driven ballad. It is the concert lighter song - get your mum or dad to explain.

Heart Attack

This hit-in-waiting takes a leaf out of the American punk-flavoured pop songbook and will give Hot Chelle Rae a run for their money. Also channelling Michael Jackson with the "owwwws".

Rock Me

Another attempt at pressing the familiarity button with a We Will Rock You synth handclap. The fist-pumping chorus rhymes pedal and heavy metal.

Change My Mind

Some heavy vocal lifting on this ballad but a little too nursery rhyme in the verses.

I Would

Whistling equals winner. But the line about the rival for the object of 1D's affection "he's got 27 tattoos" - really? Any song which spells out L.O.V.E. is guaranteed to send the screamometer into the red.

Over Again

Another great Ed Sheeran track with all the Brit "It" singer-songwriter's trademarks but has the best harmonies on the record.

Back For You

The chorus sounds like the record is skipping and the verse bassline could have been borrowed from Bloc Party.

They Don't Know About Us

A piano for something completely different. It reminds you of *Nsync with an attempt at a drum and bass beat. The girls will be slow waving their arms in the air.

Summer Love

Here's another track for the acoustic a capella harmony set in the show, albeit with an orchestral crescendo.

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AHEAD of her ARIA Awards performance on November 29, American sweetheart Taylor Swift has fought off a chart challenge from Australian pop princess Delta Goodrem to hold on to No.1 with her Red album.

Goodrem's Child Of The Universe claimed No.2 ahead of an impressive local campaign on the top 10.

Byron Bay's hardcore heroes Parkway Drive debuted at No.3 with their Atlas record, Kylie Minogue's The Abbey Road Sessions landed at No.8 and Sarah Blasko's I Awake arrived at No.9.

Psy's Gangnam Style stays at the top of the singles charts for the sixth week.

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THEY are the hottest party band in the world right now with their platinum-selling good times anthem Bom Bom.

British rabble rousers Sam And The Womp hit Australia on Saturday ahead of their X-Factor performance next week alongside Elton John and Pnau.

"It will be our first time in Australia, and we're really excited to see the country and meet our antipodean Wompers," frontman Sam said.

"We cannot wait to perform on X Factor and share the stage with Elton John versus Pnau - we plan on teaching them the Womp dance!"

Now that could rival Mel B's Gangnam Style performance.

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AFTER Heavenly Sounds tours by Seeker Lover Keeper, Lisa Mitchell and Karise Eden, it's a boy's turn.

Acclaimed British singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka, who won plenty of fans during his Splendour In The Grass set and sold-out side shows, will play the innovative circuit of churches in March. He brings another emerging British talent, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, with him for the three-date east coast run which hits Sydney at St Stephen's Uniting Church on March 27.

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday.

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IT doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out there is a very special tour about to be announced for next year.

Music media types have been invited to the Sydney Opera House on Thursday morning for an audience with Paul Kelly and Neil Finn.

The pair will announce a "special project" and perform two songs.

Rumour has it their collaboration will be a family affair.