DAVID CHECKS OUT NIALL HORAN’S ‘FLICKER’

What might David think of the Niall Horan debut album ‘Flicker’? Will he love it? Will he loathe it? Check out his review here.
Niall Horan is completely underrated.
Harry Styles is the centre of attention of the One Direction boys, but it’s not always warranted. His work is interesting and I really loved the creative expression on his debut album, but Niall is clearly the more talented songwriter. His debut solo album ‘Flicker’ is evidence of that.
Comprised of just 10 tracks on the standard version (13 if you go for the deluxe) he’s spent time working with the people he’s formed close relationships over his years in the band.
Julian Buetta is the main contributor here and since he’s co-written a majority of One Direction’s hits, it’s perhaps why this album sounds familiar yet feels distinctly Niall. You also get a good feel for who has influenced him over the years as a few of the songs give me Fleetwood Mac feels, in a good way.
Both of Niall’s initial singles ‘Slow Hands’ and ‘This Town’ are great songs and were really well received by the public. They are radio friendly and are both super relatable.
‘Slow Hands’ in particular hit hard, peaking at No.2 on the ARIA singles chart. I’m sure part of it has to do with the legion of 1D fans here, but it was a slow burn to get there, much like the song.
I really enjoyed the organic sound Niall brings to his tunes; the more humble approach really works.
‘Seeing Blind’ with Maren Morris is beyond a doubt one of the highlights of this album. They pair so beautifully; it’s a perfectly matched duet. While it shifts that little bit closer to country music, it remains firmly in pop territory for most of its three minutes.
The trend this year for most albums seems to be towards more mid-tempo numbers and that’s the case for ‘Flicker’ as well.
There are more than enough mid-tempo moments and it’s only on the deluxe version that you are awoken by one of the bonus tracks.
‘On My Own’ does feel a bit like an Ed Sheeran track, but not in a bad way. It’s lively and why it’s a bonus track I’ll never know.
Overall this isn’t cutting edge, but the genuineness that makes Niall so endearing is prevalent throughout.
It’s a great debut solo album and worth a listen, even if you aren’t a 1D fan.

VERDICT : 4/5
MUST LISTEN : Seeing Blind, Paper Houses, Slow Hands, On My Own.

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