Harry Styles “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” Album Review

Harry Styles new Album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. dropped on March 6th and was absolutely life-changing and beautiful. After three years of silence, Harry posted a video on his YouTube on December 27th, of an old concert from the time he was touring. It shocked everyone and threw them off, making them wonder if he was making a comeback. He was. Hitting at some lyrics in his first single, he dropped a month later. In total, it is 42 minutes and 39 seconds with 12 tracks. This album has gotten a variety of reviews since it came out. Some say it's too much disco and not enough kissing. For others, it's the opposite. As a self-proclaimed Harry Styles fan since his One Direction days, here is my honest rating of each track on the album. 

Aperture

The Album single! When I first heard this song on January 23rd, I was skeptical of what was in store for the rest of the album. This was the first song he released after three years of hearing NOTHING from him. He definitely let the light in with this song. Harry Styles has set the precedent for being a slow, heartfelt pop/rock musician when it comes to his beats and lyrics. So, I did not love the electronic, house music vibe right off the bat. That being said, it grew on me. He had me moving the first time I heard it. We Belong Together. It Finally Appears It’s Only Love, lyrical genius. Like a camera, aperture lets the light in. Taking a photo of a memory that the aperture lets you, finding your people, community, and we all belong together. Great start to the album, and regardless, it sets the mood perfectly. Vibes are high. 

Rating: 7.3251/10

American Girls

If only he were writing about me, since I am an American Girl. The intro right through the gates gave me chills, and I loved it instantly! This song gives me the strongest and best One Direction vibes. A mix of emotions, starting slow but turning into an absolute headbopper. I felt like he was talking about the original experience in the song of seeing his friends fall in love, as he has traveled the world and is looking for his own. He is a repetitive musician in the best way possible. It was a little calmer than Aperture, giving you time to reflect and adjust. Overall, a very good song I will be listening to as I drive or dance in my room.

Rating: 7.6/10

Ready, Steady, Go!

This song was a curveball, as I said; we were just settling into the album, only to get worked up again. I know someone out there loves this song, and I think you are rather cool. I'll be honest, not one of my favorites on the album. Much more of a rock vibe like some of his previous songs, and you truly do have to be in the mood to run around and jump to this song. A lot was happening, and it feels like it’s trying really hard to be energetic and exciting, but it doesn’t fully land for me. I do love the instrumental, and there are moments where the beat drop hits in a satisfying way, where I could totally rock out to it. The beat drop feels like day to night, and I love that energy. It’s not a bad song overall, but definitely weaker than the rest of the album. And I still do not know who Leon is. 

Rating: 4.361/10

Are You Listening Yet?

A question I was asking myself around this time of the album. I was definitely listening, but I was unsure for what. At first, I didn’t fully get it. Then I liked it. Then I loved parts of it. Then I didn’t again. Then suddenly it clicked. This song feels like a slow realization more than an immediate hit. This song was groovy, and I felt that disco energy in these first four tracks. This one grew on me. He really painted a picture of an individual who is not paying attention to the world around them and is filling their lives with things that aren't going to last. A message of are you listening to yourself and your choices yet. I liked this one, and it made me feel like I wanted to dance. If you don’t like this song, you aren’t listening yet.

Rating: 6.439/10

Taste Back

I absolutely love this song, and it is so cool. In my top three songs of the album, it was initially my favorite. Something about this song made me so happy, and I love his message. It has that disco-pop vibe that Harry perfects every time, where it is so danceable while being a song about loving yourself. This song makes you feel good and realize that you just need a little love. It feels like Harry is approaching the songwriting with a somatic perspective. This song starts very rounded, not harsh, and it just kind of eases you into that groove really really nicely.

Rating: 9.1/10

The Waiting Game

The acoustic at the beginning, chef's kiss. This song somewhat slows everything down in a really needed way. After all the disco energy, this feels like a breath. This was halfway through the album before the second half, and it was perfect. There are a lot of messages you can get from this song, and Harry's soft voice lets you find them. This song did not stand out immediately because it was slower and consistent, but one I often come back to. Not much to say about this song because it is so well-rounded and one of my favorites. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Season 2 Weight Loss

The title alone had me question what this one would be about, since we are technically in ‘season 2’ of the album, the back half. He just keeps you guessing and on your toes for this album. I was not expecting this synth, but it is something different that I love. First impression, I disliked it. Felt too crowded in the lyrics with the background music, but I realized later, as it grew on me, that is the art within itself. I love his vocals, and overall, Harry’s vocal performance is kind of laid-back in the mix, letting things sit on top of it and cultivating a vibe, rather than the message being immediately extractable from listening. This track has a cool vibe, but overall, it's probably my least favorite.

Rating: 3.8/10

Coming Up Roses

An Absolute Masterpiece. This is probably my second favorite song on the album. We are in the melancholy part, and while I love a song I can groove to, this song's composition of instruments, vocals, and all together story is utterly breathtaking. The slowest song we had on the album before and the most ‘Kiss’ in my opinion. I feel like every Harry album has that one song where you stop and think, wow, this is amazing. I think this song is one of the strongest on the album because of the complexity behind the orchestra and the lack thereof, crazy beat drops. Every time I hear it, I like it more, and it fits right between the upbeat songs. l. Definitely one of my favorites

Rating: 9.234/10

Pop

I really liked this song right away. It feels so fun and full of energy in a way that makes it hard not to enjoy. I think this is one of the songs where Harry fully leaned into the disco side of the album. THIS is the disco everyone was talking about. It’s catchy without feeling repetitive or annoying. What I like most about it is that it feels effortless and is so awesome to dance to. This song also came at a perfect point in the album because it gave another boost of energy and got your energy back up after coming up roses. Overall, super strong song and reminds me of popcorn popping!

Rating: 8/10

Dance No More

This is another standout and amazing song for me. I think what makes this song so good is how big it feels. First, the beat gets you off the bat, and all I wanna do is a funky groove. The production is strong, the beat is catchy, and it has so much energy without becoming overwhelming. I also think this is one of those songs that would be incredible live because I can just imagine everyone singing along, dancing, and just having fun. It keeps the disco theme going while still feeling different from Pop, which I appreciate because it gives the album variety instead of sounding repetitive. I love this one, and the chorus and end were stuck in my head for the longest time. 

Rating: 8.34792/10

Paint By Numbers

First, I loved this game growing up, so I could already tell it was a nostalgic song. I think this song is good, but it’s one of the harder songs for me to rank because I go back and forth on how I feel about it. Sometimes I really like it, and other times I feel like it blends into the background compared to the stronger songs around it. It’s so pretty and soft, which are things Harry does well, and lyrically, I think it has a lot of meaning. If you are a fan of One Direction, this definitely got me sad about when they were all together since they were so young. It just doesn’t grab me in the same way some of the other songs on the album do. That being said, it’s beautifully written. Like wow. And I still think it fits well on the album and adds a calm moment before the end of the album. 

Rating: 8.1209/10

Carla’s Song

The. Best. Closing. Song. I have. Ever. Heard. Somehow, someway, Harry Styles made the last song on the album the most beautiful and perfect song that truly wraps up everything this album was supposed to be. From the first time I heard it, this song stood out to me more than any of the others. Bros voice is incredible on this, and I am utterly shocked at the progression of every little beat and measure throughout. The slow understanding of closing with the crescendo upbeat tempo is beautiful. It is the perfect balance of kissing and disco, thus it is perfect. Truly one of the best closing songs I have heard on an album. Every time I listen to it, I like it even more, which is why it’s easily my number one on the album. One of the best songs he’s made. I don’t know who Carla is, but she was blessed with this song in honor of her. He truly does know what we like and delivered with this album to our liking, leaving it all there for us! 

Rating: 9.8/10

Overall, not a single skip that I come across on this album, because Harry never misses. Personally, I think there is definitely more disco than kiss, and I’m not mad about it. If you like dancing, grooving, and singing repetitively (with the occasional break), this album is for you. My rating for the whole album is 8.7 out of 10, which is considerably high alongside his past albums. I definitely recommend a listen to it and see which one is your favorite!