The pop phenomenon, Harry Styles, has returned after over two long years. After the final show of his ‘Love On Tour’ in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Styles took a long break from the public eye. During this hiatus, he wrote his fourth solo studio album, after his split from One Direction, titled ‘Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally.’ Released on March 6, this album has opened a whole new world for Styles’ music. This record is totally different than anything he’s ever done before, while still holding the classic Harry Styles sound.
When posters displaying a crowd with the words ‘We belong together’ started popping up around the world, fans knew that their favorite artist was teasing his return. Many wondered if he was going to bring back his rock style from his self-titled album, but no one expected what he actually did. In this album, Styles’ leans into an electronic/dance style. With cool sound effects and a lot of bass, this record stands out and shines. Most of the fans embraced this new era with open arms.
The record opens up with ‘Aperture’ which also happened to be the first single released on Jan. 23. This song perfectly set the tone for the whole album. This song was so good, it made me excited for the rest. The second track and also second single is ‘American Girls’. In this song he reflects on watching all of his friends get married but never him. He has a longing to commit to someone romantically. I can feel that this one is going to be a hit. It feels super fresh and has a super catchy beat that will take a hold on the whole world.
If you’re looking for some funky upbeat tunes to dance your hardest to, these next songs will be for you. ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ was my initial favorite off the album. It has simple lyrics, but a fun and intense beat to make the song well rounded. ‘Dance No More’ has a groovy 70’s feel to it. Dancing when it’s playing is irresistible. This song is the most fun on the album. You’ll love ‘Pop’ if you’re a fan of Tame Impala. This song was heavily influenced by him. This track is euphoric in all the best ways. It also has a hint of rock in it as well.
Slowing it down, Styles was able to mix in meaningful ballads to keep the record balanced. ‘Coming Up Roses’ is a song about the uncertainty of a brand new relationship. He uses the phrase, coming up roses, which normally means things are going well, to show the anxiety of things turning bad. The strings in the backing track make it heavenly. ‘Paint By Numbers’ is a reflection on the contrast between Styles as a celebrity and just himself. I really love this one because it’s really vulnerable and stands out from the rest of the album. ‘Carla’s Song’ is actually inspired by his friend Carla discovering a part of herself through music. This track sounds similar to his song ‘Fine Line’ off of his second album. It creates this feeling of hope and that everything is going to be okay. I think that this song was a perfect choice for the closing song, considering that it makes everything feel complete.
Imagine you are sitting outside at a cafe sipping your favorite drink. You’re reminiscing on the amazing day you had just had. It is warm with a slight breeze. That is what these next two songs feel like, a breath of fresh air. ‘Taste Back’ touches on regaining a sense of confidence and happiness in someone’s life. This song is becoming my all-time favorite of his. It just has that joy to it that’s rare most of the time. Even though ‘The Waiting Game’ can call people out on not taking action for personal growth, it also shows that breaking from bad patterns is possible. This is one of those songs that you forget about, but rediscover it and ask “How could I have forgotten about this?”
The final two tracks that I haven’t mentioned are very simple in nature, yet have great stories and meanings behind them. ‘Are You Listening Yet?’ and ‘Season 2 Weight Loss’ are catchy songs about the craziness and problems with being famous. They both are stuck in my head constantly. I believe these two songs are great, but are easily forgotten.
‘Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally.’ is a masterpiece of an album. It perfectly encapsulates dancing at a concert with your best friends, and who doesn’t like that feeling? I would rate it a 9/10.
