‘The Show’ by Niall Horan - A Review
Source - @NiallOfficial on Twitter
The third album is always a bit of a sticking point for every artist; it’s the final barrier to cross before they can go wild and experimental without fear of losing momentum. Niall Horan’s third project, ‘The Show’, is a product of breakthrough during the covid pandemic, gunning for both a contemplative, introspective feel, and at the same time an uplifting sigh of relief. The result is a sound, if a little uneven, album that looks to celebrate love and try to dig a little deeper.
In ‘The Show’ you'll find Horan right in his comfort zone with a collection of smooth, satisfactory pop tracks that’ll be kicking around Spotify’s hit lists for a while. After a big opening in ‘Heaven’, a joyous track that wouldn’t feel out of place at a Coldplay show, the rest of the album swings between high energy radio-ready territory and downtempo ruminations. A particular highlight is ‘If You Leave Me’, a bouncing, loping number with kinetic production that’s easily the most infectious moment. It’s here that a pattern also begins to emerge; perfectly enjoyable tunes, but sometimes you’re left waiting for a big, satisfying punch that doesn’t always land.
‘The Show’ on the whole is a well-polished effort, almost to a fault - the mirror-finish perfection and heavy-handed production risks some of the emotional impact being a little blunted where it may otherwise cut right through. ‘You Could Start a Cult', a melancholy campfire musing on love, is the perfect example of what happens when things get pared back; it becomes the most emotionally engaging track, about as raw as Horan gets, and probably the other big highlight of the LP. It’s almost a hint of what the project could have been: a moment of quieter, ocean-deep reflection, with which Horan is well-versed.
It’s not a bad album by any means, with plenty of catchy moments and slick production, though it sometimes doesn’t seem like it knows what it wants to be, with only the post-modern (that is to say, vaguely 80s-inspired) auditory aesthetic to tie the individual tracks together. The bigger songs feel actively contrasted with the more intimate ones rather than feeling like a decision of pacing. One gets the impression that the album as a whole was meant to be more subdued and that the larger moments, as good as they often are, were included almost out of obligation.
Horan’s ability to hit you with a barrage of compelling earworms, however, is undeniable, and all across The Show it’s impossible to escape. Where the lyrical quality may wax and wane from track to track, the melodic hooks are more than worth sticking around for - as long as you don’t mind having them stick in your head for 2 - 3 business days. Even tracks with a little less shine, like ‘On A Night Like Tonight’, will surely be a staple of big live shows, sounding as familiar as ‘Slow Hands’, though with a bit more oomph that makes all the difference.
Niall Horan’s ‘The Show’ Album Cover - Credits to the owner
All in all, The Show is a self-assured, inoffensive offering, a sign of the singer cementing his position as a staple of the charts, firmly playing it safe with a sound pop album to add to his repertoire. With a firm fan base and a permanent residency on pop radio stations, Horan has the world at his feet and can do as he chooses; now that the third album bridge has been crossed, it’ll be interesting to see what’s next.
You can stream ‘The Show’ now on all platforms and you can also find tour dates for Niall’s upcoming world tour here!