Styles reinvents pop music yet again
Mr. Harry Styles has done it again, y’all. He is back and better than ever with his new album “Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally” and his fans are being fed. After taking a break for more than two years, he is back with a new groovy sound that’s been making all the fans go ballistic.
Let’s start at the very beginning of this new era with the teasing of his upcoming album. On Jan. 12, cryptic posters that included the phrases “We Belong Together” and “See You Very Soon” started popping up in major cities across the globe. The marketing tactic led onlookers to a website that was in relation to Styles’ brand. From there, fans would enter their address and phone number, even though this very well could’ve been a scam. Anything for Harry though, right? Thankfully, two days later, those who put their phone numbers in, received a text message of a voice memo that was of Styles singing a snippet of his new single. That was just the beginning.
On Jan. 15, Harry announced the upcoming album by posting the cover on his social media platforms. His single “Aperture” would go on to release on Jan. 22 and there were a lot of opinions on his new techno beat. On March 6, the full album was released and of course the mixed reviews came flooding in. One thing everyone can agree on is that Styles is re-inventing pop by blending modern day sounds with synths and beats that sound straight from a disco dance floor. His previous album, “Harry’s House,” was more of a cozy soft pop vibe, meant to listen to in the comfort of your home.
“Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally” is definitely meant to be danced to whether you’re at the club, at home or in the pit at one of Styles concerts this year. “American Girls” is track No. 2 on the album and some fans have said that it sounds like a throwback song to his One Direction years, which is a bittersweet thing. Songs “Ready, Steady, Go!” and “Dance No More” are definitely THE dancing songs on this album. Both are super-fast paced and exciting. My personal favorite on this album is “Taste Back” because it sounds so Harry Styles to me and I love the pop sound to it. Speaking of pop, track No. 9, “Pop,” is another personal favorite due to its fast-paced synthy sound. “Coming Up Roses” seems to be a fan favorite. It has a completely different sound compared to the other tracks and has a beautiful orchestra backing it, similar to that of a movie score which you would find in the most heartfelt part of a film. A lot of the music is definitely meant for more dancing than dissecting but that’s what makes it fun and groovy.
As part of his album release weekend, besides the pop-up merch shops that appeared across the world, Styles put on a one-night concert in Manchester held the night the album came out. The full concert was then put on Netflix for fans everywhere to watch on March 8. It’s clear on the fans’ faces that Styles knows how to put on a show and everyone is glad to see him back on stage.
In conclusion, “Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally” is a timeless, flirtatious, heartfelt and sometimes chaotic album. The new sound is both nostalgic and fresh with funky beats and catchy melodies. Between the new record, the Netflix special and his upcoming tour, Harry Styles has once again turned an album release into a full cultural moment for fans all over the globe.