The Show

by Niall Horan

Overview

Three years and a pandemic between releases, Niall Horan turns the heartbreak around on his vibrant, matured The Show. His third full-length, the quick ten-track burst finds the former One Directioner in a period of positive growth, leaving his twenties behind and grounding himself in a more comfortable space where he can play with genres and have some fun. The mood is set on the irresistible opener "Heaven," a bright, life-affirming anthem that nods to the Beach Boys with the repeated "God only knows" and that group's trademark sunny vocal harmonies. Meanwhile, "Meltdown" and "Save My Life" amp up the energy with breezy choruses and '80s pop/rock vibrancy that's not too far off from his former bandmates Harry Styles' and Louis Tomlinson's contemporaneous output. Digging in deeper, he contemplates the passage of time and its effects on love on the tender "Never Grow Up" and dips into Tame Impala psych-groove on "If You Leave Me." Later, he slows things down with the acoustic guitar-and-harmonica "You Could Start a Cult," a sweet ode to a love that could sway the masses, and the piano-and-strings ballad "Science." The centerpiece title track is a sweeping showcase that builds atop swelling, orchestral drama, reaching a grand apex on the bridge, where Horan hits the most shiver-inducing vocal heights yet heard on one of his solo efforts. With each subsequent album, Horan just gets better and better. The Show is his most immediate and engaging set to date, endlessly listenable and full of heart and charm. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	06/09/2023
Label:	Capitol / Emi Records
UPC:	0602448728548

Tracks

1. Heaven
2. If You Leave Me
3. Meltdown
4. Never Grow Up
5. The Show
6. You Could Start A Cult
7. Save My Life
8. On A Night Like Tonight
9. Science
10. Must Be Love

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Niall Horan   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Harmonica,Vocals (Background)
John Legend   Primary Artist,Vocals
Lizzy McAlpine   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
John Ryan   Bass,Drums,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background),Bass,Drums,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Rob Moose   Viola,Violin,Strings
Rocio Marron   Violin
Jamie Scott   Piano,Vocals (Background)
Jeanie Lim   Viola
Sean Erick   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Amy Allen   Vocals (Background)
Joel Little   Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Julian Bunetta   Drums,Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Mike Sabath   Bass,Vocals (Background)
James Bush   Cello
John Bird   Bass,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper   Violin,String Director
Peau Halapua   Violin
Leon Silva   Saxophone
Sam De Jong   Drums
Therese Curatolo   Vocals
Mario Jose   Vocals
Emily Kohavi   Guitar,Violin,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Daniel Bryer   Vocals (Background)
Mike Needle   Vocals (Background)
Tobias Jesso, Jr.   Vocals (Background)
Kevin Williams Jr.   Tuba,Flute
Alex Torjussen   Drums
Matt Zara   Guitar,Synthesizer
Michelle Rearick   Cello
Jake Curran   Guitar,Vocals,Musical Director,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Louis Querelle   Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Joe Harrop   Viola
Danielle McGinley   Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Ben Chappell   Creative Director
Chris Hughes   Composer
Shane McAnally   Composer
Eric Caudieux   Recording
John Ryan   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Programming,Composer,Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Executive Producer
Roland Orzabal   Composer
Tom Barnes   Composer
Rob Moose   Arranger,Engineer
Ben Kohn   Composer
William Garrett   Mixing,Producer
Mike Westbrook   Engineer
Ian Stanley   Composer
Nathan Dantzler   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Jamie Scott   Composer,Vocal Producer
Spike Stent   Mixing
Jacob Kasher   Composer
Amy Allen   Composer
Joel Little   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Executive Producer
Julian Bunetta   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming
Jill Lamothe   Producer
Ruel   Composer
Mike Sabath   Composer,Producer
Casey Graham   Recording
Nick Steinhardt   Art Direction
Rob Derbyshire   Mixing
TMS   Producer,Producer
Michael Hickey   Assistant Engineer
Liz Isik   A&R
Peter Kelleher   Composer
James Napier   Composer
Niall Horan   Composer
Neal Shaw   Recording
Mark Littlewood   Recording
Phil Plested   Composer
Ryan Sanders   Design
Zackery Michael   Photography
Mark Landon   Composer
Caroline Ailin   Composer
Daniel Bryer   Composer
Mike Needle   Composer
Tobias Jesso, Jr.   Composer
Tim McClain   Recording
Martin Hannah   Recording
Jeff Gunnell   Mixing,Engineer
Ruel van Dijk   Composer
Kieron Beardmorre   Mixing Assistant
Matt Wolach   Mixing Assistant
Alex Cerutti   Recording
Matt Zara   Producer,Programming
Matthew Sullivan   Assistant Engineer
Jesse Munsat   Engineer
Carl Bespolka   Mixing Assistant
Zach Bryan   Composer
Jake Curran   Producer
Amanda Samii   A&R
Harrison Tate   Assistant Mastering Engineer
Georgia Bundschu   A&R Assistance