REVIEW: This Town by Niall Horan

I never really thought much of Niall Horan’s vocal ability while he was in One Direction; yeah sure, the guy could sing, but it seemed he was always overshadowed by the more powerful voices in the group (Zayn, Liam, and Harry). Since the One Direction hiatus new broke mid last year, I was skeptical whether Niall would have a successful solo career; there had been a few whispers on fan pages about a golfing career, and other rumors speculating he had already signed a record deal, but nothing concrete, until now.   

A few hours ago, Niall Horan released his first solo single “This Town”. The acoustic track has a simple guitar melody, and sees the 23-year-old Irishman reminisce about an old love that never flourished. This Town really showcases Horan’s vocals; the slow, stripped back style of the song really compliments Horan’s folksy sound.

When listening to Niall Horan’s debut single, I can’t help but make a resemblance to One Directions 2013 hit “little Things” and the band’s 2014 release “18” both tracks are slow and have a somewhat serious undertone; although I find that Horan’s solo release has a little more edge and realism.   

This Town is a solid release from Niall Horan; I think his new folksy/acoustic sound will definitely appeal to a more adult market. There’s no word yet on when a full length project will be released, but if this lead single is anything to go by, I’m sure Horan will have a major hit on his hands.