Walls is the debut solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Louis Tomlinson, released on 31 January 2020 through Syco Music and Arista Records.

It reached the top ten in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Poland, Spain, and the UK, and also debuted and peaked at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart.

[10] In an interview with Far Out Magazine Tomlinson stated that his album was influenced by such indie rock and britpop bands as Oasis and Arctic Monkeys that he grew up listening to.

'"[13] Guitar-based "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" is "a touching anthem about moving forward in the face of hardship"[14] with "a surging, singalong chorus about losing someone, or perhaps the break-up of a relationship".

[18] Acoustic guitar driven[15] ballad "Too Young" as well as Oasis-inspired title track "Walls" are written about Tomlinson's temporary breakup with his girlfriend "that ultimately made the pair's relationship stronger.

"[21] On a dramatic indie pop ballad[15] "Fearless", which opens and closes with children's voices, Tomlinson looks back at the peers he grew up with and ponders what ageing means.

[12] "Perfect Now", "written quite deliberately as an attempt to write a fan favourite song" and "lyrically an extension of 'What Makes You Beautiful', One Direction's first single",[13] features briskly-plucked acoustic guitar and violins.

He particularly singled out "Two of Us", calling it "emotionally bold" and saying that "these days people aren’t necessarily used to hearing male songwriters open their hearts like that"; and "Kill My Mind" - "the sound of a pop artist hitting a new creative breakthrough.

"[31] Neil Yeung of AllMusic was similarly positive, calling the album's tracks a "pleasantly surprising [and] straightforward collection of indie and Britpop-influenced singalongs from a maturing family man", "wholesome and sweet as any of 1D's hit singles" and praised Tomlinson's "genuinely heartwarming and enjoyable authenticity".

[22] Mike Nied of Idolator called the album "a strong debut", "a compelling collection that boldly defies current trends and simultaneously proves [Tomlinson] has more to say now than ever before" and "a serious win that will keep us coming back for more".

"[15] Nicholas Hautman of Us Weekly felt the record "fully embraces the Britpop genre" and called him "arguably the strongest songwriter" when compared to other One Direction members.

[33] Writing for the South China Morning Post, Chris Gillett felt the album was "a mixed bag" and that "he's still trying to find his own identity" but that he "shows signs of promise".

[28] Rachel McGrath of Evening Standard echoed Echrlich's thoughts, writing that "while Tomlinson attempts to embrace a slightly edgier sound, he often falls back on what worked for 1D" and that he "hasn’t quite shaken off his boyband past".