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:	04/05/2024
Label:	Capitol / Emi Records
UPC:	0602458682670

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
11. You Could Start a Cult [Encore Version]
12. The Show
13. Heaven [Live From Electric Picnic]
14. If You Leave Me/Everybody Wants to Rule the World [Live From Electric Picnic]
15. Meltdown [Vevo Extended Play]
16. Save My Life [Live From Electric Picnic]
17. On a Night Like Tonight [Vevo Extended Play]
18. Science [Live From Spotify Studios]
19. Something in the Orange [Live From Spotify Studios]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Niall Horan   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Harmonia,Harmonica,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Lizzy McAlpine   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background),Vocals
John Legend   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Joel Little   Synthesizer,Vocals (Background),Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar
Julian Bunetta   Drums,Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
John Bird   Bass,Vocals,Vocals (Background),Bass,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jamie Scott   Piano,Vocals (Background)
Jeanie Lim   Viola
Sean Erick   Trumpet,Saxophone,Flugelhorn
Amy Allen   Vocals (Background)
Michelle Rearick   Cello
Jake Curran   Guitar,Vocals,Musical Director,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Louis Querelle   Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
John Ryan   Bass,Drums,Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background),Organ,Piano,Bass,Drums,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background),Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
James Bush   Cello
Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper   Viola,Violin,String Director
Peau Halapua   Violin
Leon Silva   Flute,Saxophone
The Regiment Horns   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Sam De Jong   Drums
Therese Curatolo   Vocals
Mario Jose   Vocals
Rob Moose   Viola,Violin,Strings
Rocio Marron   Violin
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
Danielle McGinley   Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
The Black Quartet   Violin
Joe Harrop   Viola
Mike Sabath   Bass,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

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