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Recently, Harry Styles dropped a new album titled “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” When I heard about this album, I rejoiced. I was not so patiently waiting for Harry’s return, and I got exactly what I wanted.
“Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” is definitely an experimental album in comparison to Styles’ previous albums. Luckily for fans, Styles did not disappoint.
“Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” is heavily centered on techno, electronic, and an 80s-inspired sound. While a lot of the songs embody those terms through the fast-paced beats and interesting synths, there are a couple of songs that are similar to his previous work.
I find the album to be both fun and heartfelt with its earnest lyrics and creative orchestration.
Some of my favorite songs from “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” include “Aperture,” “American Girls,” “Taste Back,” “Paint By Numbers,” and “Carla’s Song.”
“Aperture” has been stuck in my head since it was released as a single in January. It introduces the album with a heavy bass and a synth that reminds me of the retro space aesthetic. The song has a way of being very lively while also having soft undertones. Styles’ voice holds a lot of emotion that makes “Aperture” more than just a club hit.
The second song on the album is “American Girls.” Similar to “Aperture,” “American Girls” has a beat that people dance to with a catchy chorus. However, “American Girls” feels gentler because of the focus on the piano notes and the way in which Styles sings. It makes the track warm and comforting.
“American Girls” is a song that is perfect for watching a sunset.
Moving on to “Taste Back,” the beat is relatively calm while still incorporating alluring synth elements. What mainly attracted me to this song was the lyrics. The chorus specifically is very earnest and sincere. It is something akin to past projects Styles has done, and I originally became a fan because of his soul-bearing style of writing.
My favorite line from “Taste Back” by Harry Styles is “Did you get your taste back? Or do you just need a little love.”
Next is “Paint By Numbers.” As someone who loved paint-by-numbers mobile games as a kid, I expected to like this song, and I was right. I took a liking to the slower, simpler songs on the album, and “Paint By Numbers” is no different. Styles sings about the image of a person others can create, despite who the person actually is. He does so in a smooth way, his tone tender.
Again, it feels as though Styles is sharing a piece of himself with “Paint By Numbers,” and that captivated me.
The last song on the album is “Carla’s Song.” It is one of the more upbeat tracks on the album, with the prominent bass and fast drums. The term upbeat applies to the lyrics as well. Styles sings about there being more to life that waits to be seen. Another fan, Kyndall Bass, says that she really resonated with this notion.
“I think this song is such a beautiful ode to the unexplored, and a reminder to try new things and actually live life,” she said.
Overall, “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” is a well-rounded album in both the messages conveyed and each track’s orchestration. It was clear to me that Styles enjoyed trying something new with his music, and that in turn made me love the album.
4.7/5 Spinnaker Sails
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