On March 6th, English singer-songwriter Harry Styles released his highly anticipated fourth studio album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. The album marked a grand return into the pop universe, which has surely been lacking in male talent in these last few years.
The album opens with the previously released lead single, Aperture. A five minute electropop tune, it was a bold choice for a single, especially one that marked his first musical release in nearly four years. However, one could say the bold choice is fitting for such a special return. While it took some time to settle in and resonate, Aperture is a song that will get the dance floor bustling. Its chanty chorus and message of belonging and newfound love almost guarantee it to be a hit at weddings and clubs alike.
The second track on the album is the newly released single, American Girls. While groovy and certainly a new direction sonically for Styles, one can’t overlook the lack of maturity in the lyrical content. To me, it wouldn’t sound out of place on a One Direction album. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, Styles is 32 years old. It would make sense for a teenager or young adult to sing lyrics about witnessing friends having infatuations with American ‘girls’, but for a 30 year old, it just doesn’t sound convincing.
The album then transitions to the Dance-Pop anthem Ready, Steady, Go! This may be more of a fringe opinion, but this song is a highlight of the album. Despite hitting just under three minutes, this song packs a powerful sonic punch. Styles has mentioned that the album was partially inspired by his journey in running, and this track definitely fits the vibes. Its energy boosting instrumentals and repeat chorus are part of the recipe that make this track not only perfect for a 5K, but also a concert.
The next track is Are You Listening Yet? This track is also a new musical direction for Styles. It’s a synth-pop anthem, complete with heavy percussion and spoken word verses. While I can appreciate the new direction forward, the song doesn’t resonate. The chorus undeniably can get stuck in your head, and it will be a success in concert settings, but when I’m listening casually, the song doesn’t strike me as something pleasant.
The following song is a major highlight in the project. Taste Back, a synth-pop track, adds a flavor of breakup angst the album has been lacking so far in the tracklist. The chorus is undeniably catchy, and proves the theory that a scorned lover makes for the best lyricist.
The next track is The Waiting Game. Honestly, this song is just fine. It has a catchy chorus, but doesn’t exactly add anything special to the album. The lyrical content matches the quality of the song. Waiting for things to change, but they remain the same. This song is not a step forward musically, but it’s not god awful.
The following track is Season 2 Weightloss. Because of its intriguing title, this song was particularly anticipated by fans. And, in my opinion, it wasn’t a let down. The lyrics heavily resonate with people who are trying to be who they are, but are constantly bombarded with who they should be. The chorus may be repetitive but it’s catchy, and Styles has a unique tone of voice that he rarely utilizes in his discography.
The next track on the album is Coming Up Roses, probably one of the most beloved songs to come from this album, and in my opinion, rightfully so. It’s a complete leap into another musical direction that is strings-heavy and lyrically biographical. It’s a song about falling in love, which is cliche, but Styles engineers it into a beautiful track that is almost reminiscent of Bridgerton. It’s also the only track on the album written solely by Styles, and, in fact, the only in his entire discography.
The following song is certainly a tone shift, but a welcome one. Pop is, suitably, a pop-rock track. It’s also a fan favorite, with introspective lyrics about relationships, and going against society standards. Hence, not being “pop”. The chorus heavily utilizes Styles’ shouty vocals, a quality that has been lacking in his recent work. This track also sounds like it could be on a One Direction album, but in one of their more mature albums.
The tenth song of the album highlights another absolute standout. Dance No More is the disco in “disco occasionally”. Its groovy beats are reminiscent of the Bee Gees, and the lyrical themes of letting go and being truly yourself will definitely resonate at a Harry Styles concert, where he urges his audience to be who they want to be. It’s chanty, and campy.
The second to last song in this project is Paint by Numbers. It’s definitely a jump from the upbeat production of its predecessor, stripped down to just an acoustic guitar and light percussion. The lyrical content, however, makes up for the lack of glam. The song is an introspective on fame we’ve never really gotten from Styles before, and it’s even rumored to be inspired by the death of Liam Payne, Styles’ former bandmate. It’s not a song that will get you dancing like a majority of the tracks on this album, but it’s a song that will definitely get you crying.
The song that concludes the album is Carla’s Song. This song is personally my favorite on the album. Its production incorporates 80s synth and heavy drums, which heavily relates it to Satellite, a track on Styles’ previous album. The message of discovery, and the repeated line “It’s all waiting there for you.” Make this song feel like the end credits of a coming of age movie. In this case, it’s the end credits of Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.
After multiple listens from top to bottom, I believe this album is a very good addition to Styles’ discography. I appreciate the boldness of going in new musical directions, and exploring landscapes that were previously foreign to Styles’ iconic pop-rock sound. I think this album was worth the wait, and I’m excited to see where Styles goes next, sonically and lyrically.
