Following the bloat of 2018's double-album
Icarus Falls, crooning English loverman
Zayn scales things back for his third set,
Nobody Is Listening. This time around, he's a new dad, partnered-up, and nearing the ripe age of 30. His music takes a logical turn with this growth, showing the singer/songwriter's vulnerable side and moving closer toward heartfelt love songs instead of exaggerated playboy fantasies. That's not to say the album is void of steamy sensuality or lip-biting sex romps ("Sweat" and "Windowsill" really get the blood flowing); rather, they simply become one of the facets of a well-rounded relationship, one that even finds
Zayn fantasizing about wedded bliss ("Yeah, you could be my wife for real/Only takes a woman to show what it means to love" on "When Love's Around"). His tightest, most mature album to date,
Nobody Is Listening benefits from both the sonic and thematic focus, even if some of the songs bleed together or stick to the same mood. Although "Better" and "Vibez" were the album's lead singles, the aforementioned "Sweat" and "Windowsill" offer the most radio-ready moments of pop excitement, with the former recalling
the Weeknd's synth hedonism and the latter transporting listeners away on a hazy cloud reminiscent of
Post Malone. Touches of
D'Angelo,
John Legend, and
Khalid (who co-penned "Outside") also drift in and out of these 11 tracks, reminders of
Zayn's vocal prowess and ability to nail multiple styles. Even though the album isn't as immediate as his prior work, it rewards repeated listens and some concentration, a smooth experience fit for wasting a day away between the sheets. ~ Neil Z. Yeung