For this unexpected pivot, Zayn Malik made the left-field choice to try his hand at something different, layering soul, blues, and country with great results. Room Under the Stairs is a nourishing, revealing, and revelatory set of stripped-down tunes that provide an ideal soundtrack to anything from a campfire at dusk, hiding under a warm blanket, or just driving on an open road with the windows down. Inspired by Chris Stapleton and Willie Nelson, Malik takes his recognizable voice -- a standout from his days in One Direction and one utilized on his sensual, R&B solo material -- and proves its versatility, with its depth, grit, and warmth shining brightly on these restrained, rootsy tunes. "Alienated" is a showcase for those vocal acrobatics, backed by rustic guitar twang and whimsical percussion, while sweeping strings and church-worthy keys on "How It Feels" support Malik's yearning cries to a lover who is "breakin' my heart." Meanwhile, the pop-kissed songwriting of "Stardust" and "False Starts" provide two of the catchiest, most memorable melodies, while the galloping "Birds on a Cloud" is one of the sole moments of uptempo blood rush on the set. His voice is so suited to this type of music that it's a wonder it took him so long to go this route. More than a reductive "Zayn goes country" album, the beautiful Room Under the Stairs is the sound of an artist trying something brave and new, tapping into his soul and coming out on the other side with the strongest album of his career to date. ~ Neil Z. Yeung