Since One Direction’s hiatus in early 2016, its former members have pursued solo careers in genres across the musical spectrum. Zayn Malik and Liam Payne have each tried their hands at pop and R&B blends of sexy lyrics and bad boy images. Harry Styles earned the respect and admiration his fanbase of young women and music legends alike with his self-titled debut album earlier this year.
Out of all the former boy band members, Niall Horan, who released his debut solo record Flicker on Friday, has stuck most closely to his pop roots. Holding to his likable image and musical reliability, Horan’s record can be imagined as a kind of road map to where the band might have gone had they not taken a hiatus. Flicker’s folk pop feel, sprinkled with bits of funk and rock beats, is a clear echo of One Direction’s last album, Made In the A.M., and the layered vocals heard in several tracks make it easy to imagine how his former bandmates voices might have fit into the mix.
Overall, the album is nothing of a shock but is enjoyable and and an easy listen. Horan showcased some of his best work in the two singles he released before the album, both of which boast a smooth accessibility that make them perfect radio hits. “This Town” and “Slow Hands” show different sides of Horan lyrically and rhythmically, but carry his trademark easygoing charm.
Other high points on the album include the lead track “On the Loose.” Its funk rhythms and bright guitar riffs call back to some of One Direction’s best work, and it transitions easily into the mellow tracks that follow. “Seeing Blind” is another standout thanks to country singer Maren Morris, whose gentle twang blends comfortably with Horan’s faint Irish lilt.
The album is backloaded with a few more highlights like “On My Own,” which has a coarse, Bruce Springsteen-esque rock feel that’s exceptional to all other tracks on the record. “Mirrors” showcases Horan’s vocal strength that was often undermined during his time in One Direction and is emblazoned with a refreshing confidence.
Horan takes no risks with Flicker. He sticks to what he knows and what listeners came to expect from One Direction, but he uses it to his advantage. He drops hints of a personalized groove, flavoring his work with the endearing talent that was often obscured by his former bandmates’ bolder voices and demeanors.
Flicker won’t stun the music industry, but it will comfort fans who have ridden the rollercoaster of stylistic changes the former members of One Direction have put them on.
Rating: 3.5/5
