It’s time to rejoin Harry Styles on the dance floor

It’s time to wipe the dust off of your grandmother’s old go-go boots and drown yourself in sequins. After four slow years, Harry Styles has waved goodbye to his past era and invites fans to rejoin him at his fresh, new home – a 1970s dance floor. 

In an unexpected twist layered with heavy techno, Styles released 12 tracks on his latest album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. Gliding through his One Direction years into his early albums, Styles maintained a steady pop appetite. In the past he has released songs that were easy to play in grocery stores or heard by the side of the pool. But this latest album is one that is reserved for a sweaty club or at your table with a glass of wine.

This surprising album came with much anticipation, with a ticket war as the drama-fueled precursor. Fans around the world wondered what this album’s vibe could be. With the release of the first track “Aperture,” it was a tell-tale sign of what was to come. 

Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally lives up to its name. With loud opening beats and electric synth work, it’s a fun blast from the past. 

The first few songs, “American Girls” and “Ready, Steady, Go!” are energetic introductions to the album. In classic Styles fashion, the struggle of being in a relationship and the pain of romance is called out while electric guitar and drums blare. It’s a strange feeling of wondering – “am I dancing to your pain?” 

The songs “Dance No More” and “Pop” are the ones who truly inhabit the dance floor. “Dance No More” is the most groovy and reminiscent of the 1970s disco era. Again, with heavy lyrics about the pressures of being a celebrity, this song encourages fans to get up and move. The fate of Madison Square Garden lies within glitter and boa feathers. “Pop” serves as a reminder of Styles’ third album song “Cinema.” These songs act as sisters, both with intimate and sensual lyrics. “Pop” is just “Cinema” but sexier, sleeker and more fun. 

In particular, the songs “Coming Up Roses” and “Paint by Numbers” stand out as a change in pace. Quickly switching up, “Coming Up Roses” begins with violins and piano. Styles has slowed down into a waltz, oozing lyrics about falling in love and slowly losing them. Rather than being a high-energy run, this song takes its time to dig the lyrics right in. 

“Paint by Numbers” is another painful journey, a reflection of One Direction’s “glory days.” However, these so-called “glory days” were often clouded with heavy anxiety and pressure. Styles reflects on the weight of many young fans looking up to him. And while we all know how One Direction ended, fans are still hungry for a reunion that may never come. Styles feels this pressure and this guilt, something that is showcased through the lyrics. 

In a stunning conclusion, “Carla’s Song” diverts from the current theme of painful romance. Instead, Styles’ finishes off with a tale about a personal friend of his, Carla, with whom he played a song for. He noted that her expression resembled that of someone discovering magic. This finale is Styles’ way of expressing his love for music and how he hopes his music might have the same magical effect for listeners. 

This entire album is battling with frustrating romances and the pain of being in love. This is an idea that has always been a common theme in Styles’ work. In this specific album, Styles almost wants us to find positivity within the darkness. We’re in love at every moment of our lives, but we only get to shed the negativity in our lives occasionally. Yes, things hurt, but we can still dance. The disco ball will continue to turn. 

While Styles’ third album Harry’s House was a sunlit room, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally is a New Year’s Party. Whether you yearn to dance your heart out in the middle of a party or silently watch your crush from afar, this album offers room for both.