EDITORS’ NOTES

On his first solo album, Niall Horan embraces the role of openhearted singer/songwriter. Flicker is a disarming and deeply personal set whose warmth recalls ‘70s folk-rock (“Fire Away”), but with a romantic urgency that feels evergreen (“This Town”). What’s more, Horan’s pop pedigree continues to shine: The sultry funk of “Slow Hands” and lush harmonies of “Seeing Blind,” a duet with rising country star Maren Morris, are both understated and undeniable.