Harry Styles – Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. (Album Review)
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Harry Styles has more in common with David Bowie than he does with his pop peers. He has graduated from boy band heart-throb to a fluid, eccentric, and (sometimes overly) introspective artist. He can sell out stadiums with young girls screaming, but with a love for the avant-garde, he can win a smirk from the harshest of critics. ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.‘ took me aback with its staggering self-awareness and genuine humility.
His records can flip from dark truths guised in feel-good pop production to tender confessions he knows don’t always paint him in the best light. If you were to take anything away from this album review, it would be that Styles is a stellar musician. If you’re turning up your nose at liking a once squeaky-clean heart-throb, you are missing out.
In KATTDO, we hear a man making a conscious decision to indulge in euphoria while acknowledging his depressive tendencies. I don’t favour all the tracks, but they all paint a picture. This isn’t narcissistic, pretty-boy music, singing about his strained relationships with models. This is a man who sounds like he’s tried to call some emotional time-out and found genuine satisfaction.
Joyous Pop With Substance
Let’s start with the opening track and lead single. ‘Aperture‘ impressed me from the first listen a few weeks ago. I had heard of ‘aperture’ from dabbling in photography, but never considered it as a metaphor for finding light in one’s life. The thumping bass that accompanies his first ‘I’m going on clean…’ had me screw up my face instantly. It makes perfect sense to have this as the first song on the album. It is a new chapter for Harry, you understand that instantly. He and his team have always picked their singles well, and hearing the rest of the album, this is definitely the right choice.
Whilst my favourites of the album don’t come till the end of the record, I have to shout out ‘American Girls‘. It’s an infectious look into the life of a pop star, and I knew immediately real-life American girls would be all over this. I’ve still not figured out what he’s saying here – is he saying he’s friend-zoned the type of friends his mates are falling in love with, and now he’s looking to switch things up? Who knows, but it’s fun!
My favourite tracks are the last three on the album. Hit play on ‘Dance No More‘ if you want to see him in his Prince funky bag. This one is catchy in the way ‘Late Night Talking‘ is, but a completely different vibe. This number is him getting caught up in the hedonism of LA, but in a really good way. The details in his lyricism are so good, capturing the kind of shallow conversation you have with a stranger that feels profound only when you’re completely out of it: “DJs don’t dance no more.“.
A note that I jotted down on first listen was “It’s an ode to club life, but doesn’t sound like he wrote it on c**e.“. I think that sums it up. Transporting to a club in the 70s, you dance to what could be mistaken as a funky Bruno Mars song. I’m here for it.
Thoughtful Subject Matter
However, on a more serious note, it’s followed up by ‘Paint By Numbers‘. This is existential acoustic, which really should be its own genre. If any song on here feels like it’s touching on his bandmate Liam Payne’s tragic death, it’s this one. I haven’t read into his explanation of the track yet, and maybe never will, because this is what I take from it. It’s his complicated, messy relationship with fame and living up to how others perceive you. It is becoming a brand, not a person. It’s him realising that a little compassion goes a long way, especially when you’re just figuring it out.
Finally, ‘Carla’s Song‘ gripped the imagination of fangirls everywhere. Calm down, everyone. Carla is just a friend, and this track is probably even better than if he wrote a heartfelt ballad. He bottles something I’ve never heard anyone explain before on a song, the joy of turning someone onto new music. Something that changes their life, like a little kid tasting ice cream for the first time. It’s a perfect close to this album. There’s so much ice cream out there, just waiting. That is the hope.
Tracks that Deserve a Second Listen
‘Coming Up Roses‘ might be his next single, I’m calling it. It may be my favourite display of lyricism on the album. However, I need a few more listens for it to really hit. Furthermore, this is a terrific showcase of his exceptional vocals, which people often forget about. The string section in this track shattered my heart and brought an extra layer of drama. I can already imagine this being performed live, and it will go down as one of his all-time best.
Picture an Imogen Heap-esque track with The Weeknd-inspired vocals. This is what you get with ‘Season 2 Weight Loss‘. The name of the record instantly struck and amused me, and is once again an illustration of his hyper self-awareness. It feels like him at his loneliest and most vulnerable, but in classic Harry style – the darkest ideas are shadowed by an upbeat tempo.
There are some songs on the album that don’t speak to me, including ‘The Waiting Game‘, ‘Taste Back‘, and the promiscuous ‘Ready, Steady, Go!‘. There are also tracks which are really enjoyable and are sure to creep inside my brain and live there till I love it. ‘Are You Listening Yet?‘ feels like one of those. It’s a thrusting serve from Styles here, and I can picture him strutting topless in a pink boa and sunglasses to this one. He’s practically sing-rapping on the verses à la RuPaul.
Finally, ‘Pop‘ is the most radio-friendly offering after ‘Aperture‘. I like the concept of the former One Direction star freaking out that he’s meant to be a light-hearted figure when deep down he’s anything but. Don’t get it twisted, this isn’t a pretentious ‘You guys just don’t understand me’ song. I interpret it as him talking to himself, ‘It’s meant to be pop’. He always plays on pop in a sexual sense, as he likens his newfound life to pulling a thread that’s making him misbehave. This is perfect for the masses and for the critics with its multi-layered meaning.
Final Thoughts
The title ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.‘, now makes perfect sense. That has been his life since he disappeared after his ‘Love On Tour‘ shows. I still need time with it to decide where it falls in the rankings of his other projects (basically, is it better than ‘Harry’s House‘, which I played to death). I know already there are some tracks on here that have become my all-time favourite Harry songs, and this is a record I’d definitely recommend to all.
Rating: 8/10
Harry Styles is on Instagram. Support the artist and buy the album here or stream below. Read more IndustryMe album reviews here.
About The Author
