Harry Styles released his fourth studio album, “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” on March 6.
The “teaser” song, “Aperture,” was released Jan. 22, which marked the end of Styles’ four-year-long hiatus. One Direction member and solo artist is back, and will also be going on tour in 2026.
The album has an EDM vibe to it, with heavy bass and a lot of backing tracks that are layered for a new sound. This is nothing like what he has released in the past. Fans are loving this new sound for Styles; it is fresh, different, and provides a new level of respect for him as a musician and artist.
“Dance No More” is a stand-out track, in all honesty. The irony between the album and the song title is what stood out, because the album is about dancing and disco, but the song references the shift from participant to performer: a DJ controls the music for others but doesn’t necessarily experience the dance the same way. “It’s feeling like the music has been Heaven-sent,” portrays music as something almost spiritual, and suggests that the experience of dancing and music can feel transcendent, joyful, and communal.
“Paint By Numbers” has a casual sound to it, something that would be on one of his previous albums, but is really about acknowledging Styles’ fame and being recognized as a musician before being a human being. His time with One Direction resulted in sold-out concerts, hitting the charts, breaking records, and winning the hearts of their fans. Whereas now, Styles has since grown to much more than that. Becoming an icon within the music industry. This song is an ode to his boys, especially Liam Payne, who unexpectedly passed away in Oct. 2024.
“Are You Listening Yet?” opens with Styles’ favorite line in the song: “God knows your life is on the brink and your therapist’s well-fed.” Instead of the therapy sessions helping him to work on himself, it seemed as though he was only recounting his life to the therapist, and the second half of the verse is a sarcastic cop-out, referring to all the stories and problems he shared without feeling like he was making progress. The repeated line of “are you listening yet?” emphasizes the purpose of the song, which is feeling like nobody is listening to you, even when that’s the point of talking sometimes.
Overall, the album is well structured, has a refreshed and renewed vibe, and really matches Styles’ aura and personality.
