Harry Styles’ fourth album, “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally,” is an experimental dance pop album that showcases Styles’ range in style.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this album. I respect wanting artists to explore new genres, and I think Styles did this very well. While this album didn’t have any skips for me, some didn’t stick with me as I had hoped they would. Not all of his albums can be like HS1 and HS2.
Aperture: Upon first listen, I could imagine myself in a club jumping around to this song. I feel like I am levitating when listening to this song. This is really the only song on the album that I truly believe fits the title of the album. It gives me the most disco, club feeling, which is what Styles wanted.
American Girls: I immediately heard long-haired Harry in this song; it is peak One Direction. It is my top song on the record. It gives me a sense of nostalgia even though the song came out only a few weeks ago. While this song is simple and can seem like it lacks things other songs have, the yearning for One Direction keeps it at the top of the list.
Ready, Steady, Go!: There’s a lot of funk in this track, and the album starts to pick up, and the “disco” comes out. Admittedly, I did not like it when I listened to the album the first time, but it has since grown on me. There is a very strong element of house music that speeds up as the song progresses. It resembles being breathless and craving more of something.
Are You Listening Yet?: This song is extremely chaotic and can be hard to follow at times, but that’s the beauty of it. Styles sings about balancing listening with your head, heart and outside influences. He asks a lot of questions of the listener throughout the song that require one to examine their own life and habits. This song has recently grown on me as well; it’s now one of my favorites.
Taste Back: This song is number two on my favorite list on this record. I made a connection to another one of Styles’ songs, titled “Cherry.” Many songs on “Fine Line” are about a former girlfriend. There are many parallels in this song and I can’t help but wonder if there is a connection there. The mention of calling him baby and living in Paris stands out if lore is understood.
The Waiting Game: The feeling of being “emotionally dry” from a relationship hangs heavy over this song. It is a very honest song and is heartbreaking. Staying in a situation too long due to the fact that you don’t want to be alone is something a lot of people can relate to. It resonated with me, and while the beat and music itself isn’t melancholy, the lyrics are.
Season 2 Weight Loss: When I saw this name on the tracklist, I was very intrigued as to what this song could be about. Creating your own self is something that I struggle with, as many do, including Styles. The dynamic sounds of this album highlight the experimental nature of it and express that Styles is an artist wanting to explore.
Coming Up Roses: This track sounds like a continuation of “Taste Back.” When listening for the first time, I was pulled in by the string section set behind the lyrics. Styles is known for using trumpets in multiple of his songs, but not orchestras. This was a bold choice for a dance pop album, but it exceeded expectations. It is the only song on the album that truly caught me off guard and caught my attention as it was so different. The strings represent the heartbreaking nature of the song, and it sounds like something is slowly ending.
Pop: Another instant love for me. I have always loved Styles’ more energetic songs, and this one showcases the style that he was aiming for. This is another song that connects to a previous one. In “Cinema,” off “Harry’s House,” Styles says, “You pop, when we get intimate,” and this is a call back to that song. The lyrics leave little to the imagination, and combining that with a strong disco beat creates a heady mix for the listener.
Dance No More: This is by far the funkiest song on Styles’ fourth album. I enjoy the deep bass throughout and how it follows the common theme of the album. The lyric “Respect! Respect your mother!” reminds me of 70s club music. Many argue online that this song is more of an innuendo, but that is up to the listener to decide.
Paint By Numbers: Having this track following “Dance No More” is like whiplash for the listener. This is a self-reflection song for Styles. It’s a vulnerable song about everything about yourself, “running together.” This song doesn’t really touch me like some of his others.
Carla’s Song: I only have one thing to say: Harry Styles knows how to end an album.
