On the 13th of March Niall Horan’s second studio album titled Heartbreak Weather made its way into the ears of fans following his successful debut album Flicker three years prior. Many have loved it, others among the music review circles found the album to be subpar. After doing some listening and research there was quite a lot to dissect.
Having watched One Direction separate and move into their potential solo careers Horan seemed to become the quiet achiever of the group. He was the friendly, charismatic Irishman who followed what seemed to be his natural progression into softer, more acoustically sounding material than in his boy band days. Flicker produced gentle, thoughtful tracks including “Too Much to Ask” and “This Town” that didn’t feel too simple but were able to show off Horan’s impactful vocal ability, emotional conviction and thus his potential as a solo artist.
The album maintained interest delving into more edgier corners of its acoustic style with “She’s on the Loose” as well as the production of hit single “Slow Hands” which was praised not only for its funk pop sound but the thumping, stuck in your head beat and raspy vocals. Having been the most successful single off Flicker it was evident that fans liked hearing a new side to Horan artistically and vocally.
So when the announcement came that Niall was releasing a new album there was much interest and expectation from fans. This was met with a whirlwind of creativity in the lead up to the album's release in how the track list and album concept were presented.
Horan starred in a series of videos as his album alter ego “Niall Storm” presenting the Heartbreak Weather report in a retro styled news anchor backdrop, embracing his comedic side with an American accent and a stereotypical weatherman schtick dropping hints about the track titles to fans throughout his reports. They were fun, visually detailed and kept fans entertained in the days leading up to the premiere of Heartbreak Weather.
When the album was released along with the music video for the title track reviews were mixed from critics. Listening to the record there was a lot of confirmation in their general feedback which highlighted a let down in the writing of certain tracks that seemed to miss the mark with visual cliches, generic concepts and depictions of the “one dimensional women” that Horan sings about (“Nice to Meet Ya” and “New Angel” to name a few).
All in all it doesn’t sound as though he or any of his writing partners are really drawing from personal experiences, instead using big metaphors and common themes around love and heartbreak to create an album. If anything the tracks that include these elements feel as though they are trying to be deep and emotional but from a manufactured, familiar place, when often the best music is born from an organic, vulnerable, unfamiliar place in our lives that we have the awareness and bravery to feed into.
That being said the album is not a flop and there are hints of Niall’s previous work, musical depth and potential that feel personable, reflective and right for him. Ballads “Put a Little Love on Me” and “Still” separate themselves from the other tracks with lyrics that convey sensitivity and maturity when writing on matters of the heart, something that the rest of the album craves.
"Heartbreak Weather" solidifies itself as a great single being a more upbeat, pop focused track that is without cliches, complements its fun ‘not taking itself too seriously’ video whilst still feeling well thought out and executed. It demonstrates how Horan can show his humorous, lighter side without compromising his music to the point where it is corny and irrelevant to the type of person he actually is.
In fact the music videos that were released for the album feel more impressive in their concepts and layering of themes that they sometimes add more than the music does alone. The “No Judgement” video explored the honesty and transparency in a relationship of an older couple strengthened by their ability to celebrate and accept one another for all of their flaws and human quirks. The second alternate video for this single was as pleasantly surprising with the appearance of the Schaffer family dancing, trying on different clothing, laughing and enjoying themselves.
What makes this more unique is the inclusion of their two year old son Brody Schaffer, a young dancer famous for his passion for contemporary, jazz and ballet dancing who is the focus of the video. He dresses up in any costumes he likes, experiments with makeup with his sister and is surrounded by a family who love him and do not judge him or one another for their interests. It instantly relates to the lyrics of the song, and is pretty damn heartwarming. A++
These videos along with the slower songs of the album represent what critics and fans seem to want from Horan. An openness to try new things so he can evolve, but to not be afraid to dig deeper into his thoughts lyrically and pay more attention to his own experiences. As listeners there is an unspoken desire that with the evolution of an artist there should be newer depths and wisdoms explored that weren't previously touched on in their previous music.
We want them to have sharpened their artistry, honed in their craft and learned more, understood what worked and what didn’t. For there is nothing better than seeing an artist grow.
In Niall’s case it is worth pointing out that he can make both upbeat and more emotional music, but there needs to be connection and a tone throughout a record that reminds you why each song belongs there and how it represents where the artist is in their life through sprinklings of gravitas.
His strengths are realised when he removes the bells and whistles and whilst we will never know which people in his team contributed the most towards his creative direction, it is clear that he was not a slave to this album and really enjoyed himself during the making of it. Knowing that he is willing to experiment and take risks, regardless of what critics may think is reassuring in the wait for his next album. Just as long as it encompasses what makes Niall, Niall.
Heartbreak Weather is available to buy and stream now.