On May 12, 2017, Harry Styles took the music industry by storm by dropping his highly anticipated debut album. The boy band alumni did not disappoint, releasing a unique collection of songs that is hard to find in this age of music. Reminiscent of 70’s soft rock, Harry Styles is a mix of dreamy ballads, and hard rock anthems, leaving the listener on the edge of their seat. Harry Styles proves himself one of the best lyricists of his generation.
The debut single from the album, The Sign of The Times is a modern day rock ballad that took the world by storm. Lyrics like “We don’t talk enough, we should open up, before it’s all too much”, hint at today's society, and can connect to everyone in a different way. With minimalistic piano, and haunting acoustics, this is a song like none other.
Alongside soft acoustic songs such as Sweet Creature and From the Dining Table, hard rock anthems Kiwi and Carolina create an interesting contrast throughout the album. Sweat Creature is heavily influenced by the Beatles' 1968 hit, Blackbird, with beautiful harmonies and deep lyrics. Straying off the path of your average love song, From the Dining Table speaks towards the loneliness of missing a past lover, and how it’s impossible to fill the space they once filled. The 4th track of the album, Two Ghosts follows Harry as he reflects back to what he used to know, and how everything has changed. Bare and simplistic guitar chords illuminate the hard parts of growing up, and leaves you with memories of the past.
Harry then flips the switch on the 7th track, Kiwi. Rather than a song about memories and remorse, the tables are turned as we hear dirty basslines and an insane lead guitar. This song truly could fit in among the great 70s rock anthems, and is an outlier in music today.
Whether it’s hard rock, a dreamy ballad, or stripped guitar, Harry Styles proved that he was not only a boy band alumni; he claimed his title as the king of modern day rock. Through the contrasting mood of each track on the album, he proved himself as one of the most versatile artists of today. As the world waits in anticipation of his sophomore album, Fine Line, singles such as Watermelon Sugar and Lights Up offer a glimpse into what is to come.
Written by Nathalie Boal