Niall Horan, Heartbreak Weather | Album Review 💿

Following a respectable, if safe debut LP, Niall Horan takes a big, mature step forward on his sophomore LP, Heartbreak Weather.

Transitioning from a boy band to a solo artist can be difficult.  As I’ve stated previously, more often than not, there is a chosen superstar from a boy band.  Looking at One Direction, the purported chosen one is Harry Styles, who has two commercially successful albums under his belt (Harry Styles and Fine Line).  That said, ZAYN experienced success with his debut album (Mind of Mine), Louis Tomlinson debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 with his debut (Walls), while Niall Horan saw his debut album, Flicker, debut atop the Billboard 200.  The thing is, arguably, the pleasant-voiced Niall lacked a bit of that ‘wow factor’ on his debut album.  Does the heartthrob still come off somewhat middle of the road on his sophomore album, Heartbreak Weather?  More often than not, in all honesty, Heartbreak Weather is a big step forward for the Irish pop star – a pleasant surprise.

“Heartbreak Weather”

“All of my life, I’ve been sleepwalk-livin’ / Runnin’ around the same bars I’ve been in / It can be so lonely in this city / But it feels different when you’re with me.” Niall Horan commences Heartbreak Weather superbly with ✓ “Heartbreak Weather.” Per Horan via The Sun, the song is “about the start of a relationship… quite a personal song […] dressed up as a happy tune. [It] has an eighties kind of feel to it, it makes you feel happy as soon as it starts and that’s what I wanted.” Couldn’t say it better myself.  This is a bright, energetic opener that really sets the tone for the album, and finds Horan sounding more mature vocally.

Follow-up “Black and White” maintains the energy level of the title track.  Here, Horan recounts his relationship, which at one time, seemed quite committed and lit AF.  His feelings towards his girlfriend were certainly legit – quite deep. The bridge is a prime example. Singing with great expressiveness, Horan asserts, “And I want the world to witness when we finally say ‘I do’ / It’s the way you love, I gotta give it back to you.”  Matrimony was clearly on his mind.

“Dear Patience” features a gorgeous melody.  Of course, Niall’s mature vocals bring that gorgeous melody to life.  Furthermore, the lyrics are incredibly thoughtful.  The emotions, and again, the energy, he exhibits on the chorus are tremendous.  Horan never over sings, but on Heartbreak Weather in general, compared to Flicker, he seems to kick things up a notch.  One winning touch is the use of fiddle at the end – very Irish-sounding, intentionally.

“Bend the Rules”

“I just called to say that I miss you, babe / Wonder what you’re doin’ now…” Ah, that Heartbreak Weather goes down on ✓ “Bend the Rules,” another record with a truly radiant melody.  The vocal production is a major selling point here – I love the warmness surrounding Horan’s instrument.  Furthermore, I like how the keyboards are incorporated within the production. Not only do we get your standard piano patch, but there’s some synths, adding color to the pop/rock, singer/songwriter vibe.

Prior to Heartbreak Weather, I might’ve questioned Niall Horan’s ability to be, well, SEXY.  No, not as far as looks (he’s a heartthrob) but selling that personality on a record. ✓ “Small Talk” finds Horan showing off such abilities, seamlessly – yeah, I said it! “Tell me what you want because you know I want it too,” he sings passionately on the infectious chorus, continuing, “Let’s skip all the small talk and go straight up to your room / I’ve been thinkin’ what I’d do when I’m alone with you.” Hmm, someone’s a bit horny for sure! Making “Small Talk” even more convincing are the ad-libs by Horan – he’s invested into, well, ‘getting it in.’ I see you Niall, and I ain’t mad at ya!

“Nice to Meet Ya” 

✓ “Nice to Meet Ya” is a short but sweet single. It commences with hums during the intro, accompanied by funky, rhythmic piano chords.  The greatness of “Nice to Meet Ya” continues with the playfulness Horan exhibits throughout his vocal performance. He’s both refined, yet more tongue-n-cheek than we’ve been accustomed to hearing.  The songwriting is pretty straightforward but quite enjoyable.  Horan reveals his ‘like’ for a girl he sees in the bar, but clearly states, “‘Cause when the morning comes, I know you won’t be there / And every time I turn around, you disappear.” The chorus section is the most modern sounding section of the song, with the reveal of the infectious, titular lyric: “(I got love for you) … / Nice to meet ya.” The bridge section is unique and pretty sweet as well.

Following the fun, quicker “Nice to Meet Ya,” Horan slackens the pace on the radiant ballad, ✓ “Put a Little Love on Me,” which was also released as an advance single.  Although it’s one of the sadder moments on Heartbreak Weather, it ranks among the crème de la crème.  One reason “Put a Little Love on Me” shines is because of how relatable it is, as Horan struggles to cope with the end of a relationship.

“When the lights come up and there’s no shadows dancin’
I look around as my heart is collapsin’
‘Cause you’re the only one I need
To put a little love on me.”

With great lyrics, and a strong vocal performance, also worth noting is the production, which features strings.

On the excellent follow-up ✓ “Arms of a Stranger,” Horan realizes the relationship is over and done with, but he’s still coping, trying to figure out his next, meaningful move.  The emphasis is on meaningful as he doesn’t feel the same way about the ‘strangers’ he’s associating with to move on from what he considers true love.  His pain is authentic on the epic chorus, as he sings vulnerably, “You left me with nothing / Now I’m lyin’ in the arms of a stranger / But why do I think of you?” Sigh, it feels so wrong for listeners to be ‘tickled fancy’ by Horan’s pain – oh, the schadenfreude!

“Everywhere” 

To this point, there have been no notable miscues on Heartbreak Weather. While “Everywhere” doesn’t quite fly as high as, say, the eight songs that precede it, it’s still pretty strong overall.  The quicker pace is a nice contrast, once again showcasing Horan’s ability to do more than ballads.  He’s still sad – she’s ‘everywhere’ after all – but at least he’s melancholy with some BPMs on his side.

“Cross Your Mind” is more of a mid-tempo number yet thrives off its groove, robust bass line, and 70s-80s vibes.  This is a sleekly produced and executed pop record with some dance and disco sensibilities, without finding Horan really stepping out of his lane. He continues to step up his vocal game, singing more expressively with greater nuance. This is where Heartbreak Weather in general has a leg up on Flicker – it takes more risks.  With “New Angel,” Niall asserts, “I just need a new distraction / And I like the way you’re dancing…” Essentially, he must find “a new angel,” who can hopefully, “get her out of my mind.” Basically, a rebound is necessary, and he’s willing to “Give [the new angel] what’s left of [him].”

“No Judgement”

“No Judgement”, another advance single, finds Horan delivering another respectable vocal. It’s another relatively quick record, with sound production (a dash of tropical pop), without being innovative or game changing per se.  Still, like Heartbreak Weather as a whole, the theme of matters of the heart is relatable and effective. Furthermore, Horan’s chivalrous nature is appreciated. Not my personal favorite, but again, sound.

The state of California gets a new song via “San Francisco,” which arrives as the penultimate record. Once more, Horan recollects about the outgoing relationship, and asks her, on the chorus, “Take me back, take me back.” Closing out Heartbreak Weather, on “Still,” as one might expect, he confesses, “Well, I’m still in love with you.” Honestly, it was to be expected, right? Right.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Niall Horan impresses with Heartbreak Weather. Going into the sophomore album, I admit, I wasn’t particularly optimistic.  Flicker was enjoyable, but not always dynamic and exciting.  Heartbreak Weather is a better-rounded album that finds Niall showing his growth and maturity as a solo artist.  Most of the album is quite consistent, with no outright miscues.  Heartbreak Weather thrives thanks to relatable subject matter (heartbreak), some memorable songs, and a much-improved, slightly riskier Niall Horan.  I’m onboard.

✓ Gems: “Heartbreak Weather,” “Bend the Rules,” “Small Talk,” “Nice to Meet Ya,” “Put a Little Love on Me” & “Arms of a Stranger”

Niall Horan • Heartbreak Weather • Neon Haze / Capitol • Release: 3.13.20

Photo Credits: Neon Haze / Capitol