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New direction: The 5 best songs from Zayn's debut album

I knew it the first time I heard Zayn Malik's debut solo single, "Pillowtalk," with its moody synths and unapologetically lustful chorus: Leaving One Direction was the smartest decision the singer ever made.

Anyone outside the blockbuster British boy band's highly hormonal target demo might have overlooked the dude before. But with his unsentimental departure and wholehearted embrace of much more relevant musical styles, he suddenly had something fresh and singular to offer the pop world.

'Mind of Mine' is now available. (RCA via AP)
'Mind of Mine' is now available. (RCA via AP)

Turns out the 23-year-old -- now performing under his first name only -- fancies himself an R&B bedroom crooner. The seductive classics of Prince, R. Kelly, Aaliyah, Usher, and the Weeknd all seem to inform Zayn's just released album, Mind of Mine. The new record also enlists the production talents of Malay, who notably sat behind the boards on Frank Ocean's similarly vibe-y Channel Orange.

Zayn's nimble voice and tasteful approach throughout the record make it an overall winner -- anyone currently riding the alt-R&B train will appreciate its thoughtful flow and the fact that the singer never overreaches vocally. He also deserves kudos for taking some control and cowriting most of the record. But like many of today's deluxe-edition pop releases, it does tend to drag on with a few too many tracks (18 full songs and two intros on the special Target version).

A little editing never hurt anyone, especially when attempting a grand pop-music debut. With that in mind, here's a little guidance if you are pulling up Zayn's Mind of Mine for the first time and want to get to the best stuff right away. Five songs with which to start (after you listen to "Pillowtalk" at least 10 times more, that is):

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'IT'S YOU'

This one follows "Pillowtalk" and maintains the slow-jam tempo. But once Zayn's reverb-y falsetto run dominates the first chorus, you know you're in for something a little different. I'd be down to hear him do an acoustic version of this. No telling how much more gorgeous it'd sound stripped down.

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'SHE'

Just like the perviously released "Befour," you can dance to this one. It's an ode to a love-hungry lass, alternating between bare-bones chant verses and infectious, MJ-worthy choruses.

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'WRONG'

Singer Kehlani duets with Zayn on a back-and-forth between two folks who know they can't save each other, but also can't let go. How many songs have been written about this very topic? It doesn't matter -- this is another great one, especially when Kehlani sings, "Go out of my way to treat ya/but I can't be your teacher."

'TRUTH'

I hear some Bill Withers and some Marvin Gaye in the melodies and delivery on this one, which begins with melancholy guitar licks and peaks (again) with Zayn's falsetto. My headphones aren't complaining, although I do wonder how some of these slow-builders will go over in arenas.

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'LIKE I WOULD'

"Hey what's up, it's been a while," Zayn sings on this bonus track. "Talkin' bout it's not my style." This is Zayn's I-want-you-back anthem, complete with a nu-disco beat and a chorus dissing the other guy (or pop singer) in your life. Not sure why it's a bonus track when the more clumsy "Fool for You" makes the standard edition. Regardless, we'll be hearing and reading tweets about all these songs for a long time to come. Your move, Harry Styles.