On Aug. 31, Louis Tomlinson dropped a tweet that announced his sophomore album, “Faith in the Future (deluxe),” would be released on Nov. 11. After a two-year hiatus, dedicated fans were excited to hear more of Tomlinson’s sound. For me, it was clear after a few listens that this album would be one for the books. 

Tomlinson’s music has always been a comfort. From my favorite song by him, “Too Young,” an acoustic love song about regret, to his motivational song, “Don’t Let It Break Your Heart,” which lifts my spirit on my worst days— Tomlinson knows how to attract listeners. 

With a tracklist of 16 songs, “Faith in the Future” needed to be ambitious, which Tomlinson achieved with a musically experimental opener that utilized drums, buildup and a chant-like chorus that caught my attention right away. Though it took a few times to get used to, the expert use of broken lyricism and themes of a lost relationship was the perfect start to an album all about the future.  

“Written All Over Your Face,” is one of the album’s best songs. It is catchy right off the bat. Every single beat, verse and pause brings something new to the table, including the lyrics, “When I hear that thunder in the distance, I know it’s getting close,” which are paired with thundering percussion. But the biggest surprise has to be “Headline,” which uses a 90s inspired melody to describe a relationship that failed because of a lover’s ability to read him too well. It was relatable and an easy listen that quickly made its way onto my playlist. 

“Faith in the Future” also offers three singles: “Bigger Than Me,” “Out of My System” and “Silver Tongues.” “Bigger Than Me” was a personal anecdote to Tomlinson’s fame and how small it made him feel. It certainly had a message, but it took me searching the lyrics up to actually appreciate the song. Musically, it was bland. “Out of My System” is more exciting, with heavy instrumental and engaging rhythms. However, in an opposite effect than “Bigger Than Me,” it was hard to find the message behind all the loud music and repetitive lyrics. On the other hand, “Silver Tongues”  satisfied me. It had an exhilarating beat with varied, interesting lyrics that kept me engaged. This is a song to vibe to in the car, serving as a breath of fresh air. It definitely reminded me of One Direction hits, but with a Tomlinson twist. 

To end this dynamic album is “That’s The Way Love Goes,” which easily takes the No. 1  spot. From the first note, it took me back to his debut album, “Walls.” It felt right that he returned to the beginning to signal the start of his future. The lyrics, “We’re going to end up somewhere we’ll regret, ‘cause in this town it’s easy to forget, That’s the way, that’s the way love goes” felt reminiscent of all the songs he’s written about regret, perhaps coming to terms that regret shouldn’t stop him from loving. It’s a beautiful sentiment that nestled its way into my heart. 

Tomlinson is an incredibly talented singer and performer, garnering immense popularity when he was in One Direction and now as a solo singer. However, as with the other members of his previous band, there was speculation on where his music career would take him and how he would end up. 

“Faith in the Future” is not perfect, and while some tracks stood out as wonderful songs, others such as “Saturdays” and “Angels Fly,” were forgettable. Still, the point stands that with such a large discography and tracklist, this was one of Tomlinson’s most notable musical feats. He proved with an album reminiscing on his past that he was ready for a great step into the future.