This Town

Love Ya, Buddie

This Town by Niall Horan

Yes, THAT Niall Horan. As in, 1/5 and later 1/4 of One Direction.

This precious little number picks up not too far from where the boy band left off, both in sound and content. Worlds away from where they started with What Makes You Beautiful, One Direction's fifth album was mellow and nostalgic and intimate.

The similarity makes sense, as he collaborated with some of the same minds as 1D, including Jamie Scott who wrote on some of the softest (in a good way) songs on Made in the A.M. (x).

But let's be fair to this new solo artist and talk about him.

This Town is a folksy ballad that puts the spotlight directly on Niall Horan. He sings, gentle and sweet, and accompanies himself on the acoustic guitar. It's lovely and casual, and it reminds me a bit of Ed Sheeran in the sincerity of the delivery.

(Even the video above is reminiscent of the music video for Little Things, a track written by Ed Sheeran for One Direction's second album. That black and white aesthetic, you know.)

The story is a melancholy little thing about, perhaps, a childhood sweetheart. It's full of love for this person, for this old town, for old times...and despite the sadness, and the assertion that it's wrong that I can't move on, it still leaves you with a warm feeling inside.

Keep a lookout for Horan's debut album as a solo artist, which he told Ryan Seacrest will be out sometime in 2017 (x). Until then, enjoy this sneak peak :)))

Overview:

Genre:
Folk Pop

Favorite Lyrics:
You still make me nervous when you walk in the room.
Them butterflies, they come alive when I'm next to you.

Verdict:
Let's face it - there's nothing this kid could release that I wouldn't fall in love with. That said, this track is actually the sweetest thing.