Harry Styles - Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally
After years of waiting, pop music icon Harry Styles has returned with his fourth studio album Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally. When the title was announced, fans weren't sure what to expect. However, Styles has never been the type to overt from a sonic shift, so coming at us with an album geared towards dancing and community was not a shock to most fans. Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, affectionately nicknamed KATTDO by fans, has quickly surged forward in popularity, with its lyrics not only being nostalgic, but also relatable. Thanks to Styles' diversity as an artist, there's also a track on the album for every person, every experience, every story.
Having taken three years off, fans were not sure what to expect when this album went public, especially with the somewhat mysterious title. However, Styles was quick to prove himself, releasing a wide variety of innovative pop sounds that somehow sound both new and old. Fast-paced dance tracks like Are You Listening Yet? and Dance No More, mellow vibey tracks like Coming Up Roses and Waiting Game. This sonic shift is one that we have yet to hear from Styles, and while the album is relatively simple in its composition, the variety and lyrics are really what draws you in.
It's true, there is no Sign of the Times or Fine Line style track on this album, but this album does feel like it aged up with the Harry Styles Fandom, creating a safe place for those navigating adulthood, love, heartbreak, and more.
The first and only single released off of the album was entitled Aperture. This was a spunky track perfect for dancing, and conveyed a message that Styles has been pushing right alongside his iconic “treat people with kindness”, this being “we belong together”. This jam immediately puts Harry Styles back on the radar of his fans, feeling that same sense of community that he has created time and time again (minus those ticket prices…). Following this release, fans eagerly awaited their first listens to the rest of the tracks on the album, which was released on March 6th.
Right off the bat, some top tracks that stood out were Are You Listening Yet?, Coming Up Roses, Paint By Numbers, and Dance No More, though the album has virtually no skips, these tracks stand out for either their musicality, lyricism, lore, or all of the above. Given the title Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, it could be assumed that we would be dealt a fair amount of songs of love and reflection, with a few fast-paced, possible disco/Euro-dance inspired tracks with high energy. That is exactly what this album gave, so here's a breakdown of some stand-out tracks:
Track 2 - American Girls
When it comes to Harry Styles, most fans have been around since his days in the world-famous British boyband One Direction. This track seems to reflect on Styles' time spent in America, where he built a strong percentage of his fanbase, addressing that these fans will always be near and dear to his heart. This track is clean and chill, allowing us to reflect on that 2010’s nostalgia alongside Styles.
Track 4 - Are You Listening Yet?
This track, along with the track "Dance No More", perfectly represent the “disco occasionally” portion of this album. With a fast-paced, punching beat, this song pulls you up onto your feet, wondering if you are listening to the music around you just yet. Upon first listen, this track sounds almost nothing like the music Styles has previously released, however, this new wave of electronic music adds yet another style to Styles repertoire.
Track 8 - Coming Up Roses
Coming Up Roses is a beautiful, muted ballad with a simple but stunning composition. This track seemed to resonate with lots of fans upon its release, as it tells the tale of appreciating fleeting moments of relationships of every kind, even if they aren't meant to last forever. Whether you became a fan of Styles during his 1D days, or during his solo career, this slow-tempo ballad seemed to resonate with the majority of fans.
Track 10 - Dance No More
This jam perfectly captures the “disco occasionally” portion of the album's title. A relatively unserious dance track, featuring a chorus of voices and a punching baseline. This track features a pop twist on a classic disco sound, which is definitely something Styles should consider expanding upon in future releases. If you’re looking for a more modern dance track with a classic feel, track 10 is here for you.
Track 11 - Paint By Numbers
Put quite plainly, this track is a top track for this album because of its ability to pull on the heart strings of its listeners. This track is a subtle but effective tribute to One Direction, but specifically, the passing of former band member Liam Payne. While this track is not a direct call out to his passing, and could be seen as a song that is reminiscent of youth, there are subtleties within the lyrics that call attention to Payne, and the memories that he and Styles shared while traveling the world together for years. This track is a quiet acoustic track, where the vocals are the main focus. This track depends mostly on its lyrical composition, and the vocals to back them up. Paint By Numbers is a scrubbed down, intimate track that shows a side of Styles that we don’t often see, a side that is openly reminiscing about memories he once shared with millions of fans worldwide, with the intent of paying tribute to an old friend.
This album left fans with mixed feelings for sure, wondering why there weren't more disco elements throughout the album, or not enjoying Styles' venture into another sonic shift. Some fans definitely felt that the years-long wait wasn't worth it for the product they were given. However, the album's title, and Styles' tendency for subtleties, is reflected by these tracks very well. Styles is clearly making a shift to completely disconnect himself with his One Direction sound, and this may be the sort of sound we could anticipate from Styles moving forward.