On his sophomore effort,
Faith in the Future
, former
One Direction
member
Louis Tomlinson
finally seizes his moment, crafting a strong collection of earworms that honors his British musical influences and finds his vision and voice. Steeped in cautious optimism,
is confident without being cocky, its self-assurance born from years of life experiences and personal growth. That energy results in a collection of towering singalongs that are unabashed in their pure emotions, finding strength in resolve and setting sights on the future. While still taking cues from the Britpop era,
Tomlinson
spruces things up by incorporating contemporary production touches and catchy dance beats, striking an ideal balance between his rock and pop sides that wasn't as apparent on his 2020 debut
Walls
. This album's most stadium-sized moments tap into his inspirations from the '90s, channeling both the bombast ("The Greatest") and the balladry ("Chicago," "Saturdays") of
Oasis
and capturing the lighters-up, full-throated earnestness of
Robbie Williams
, with tracks like the tender acoustic "Common People," the soaring "Angels Fly," and "Bigger Than Me" seemingly ready for the Glastonbury stage. Carrying the set into the 2020s,
delivers mainstream-leaning fare with the pulsing bass-groove of "Written All Over Your Face" and the synth-laden "She Is Beauty We Are World Class." Equally as catchy, the shimmering "Lucky Again" and the driving "All This Time" are just two of a handful of highlights that echo the pop-rock breeziness of fellow countrymen
Blossoms
.
also injects some edge, wrangling the urgency of 2000s emo-rock on "Face the Music" and "Silver Tongues" and bottling the pop-punk-revival ferocity of
Yungblud
on "Out of My System." Existential realizations, relationship drama, and self-reflection swirl throughout, but
accepts the highs and lows of life with unassuming grace, employing these songs as personal reminders for both himself and listeners. While other
1D
members might grab more of the public spotlight,
proves his strength as a songwriter and voice for fans with more complex, deeper emotions. ~ Neil Z. Yeung