Up For Review: "Harry Styles" by Harry Styles
If you had told me years ago that I would be reviewing a Harry Styles album, I likely would've told you, you didn't know me or you had the wrong guy. I'll admit to you now, I am not a One Direction (#1D) fan. I am naturally skeptical of the musical prowess of these guys when they breakout on their own. There has only been one really successful ex-boy band member... All hail King Timberlake for making the transition.
About a month ago, I caught wind of Harry Styles solo album being released sometime in early May. I rolled my eyes as I've seen this before with Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, 98*Degrees, etc. They've all broken up, they've all tried the solo route, and with the exception of the aforementioned Timberlake, they've all failed at clearing the gap.
Harry Styles self-titled album released on May 12th, 2017. It was easy to find in the "New Releases" section of Spotify. I queued it up knowing it was going to be a solo version of a 1D album. I'm happy to say I was 100% wrong. This is a really good album. Do I think it is as good as Justified? Absolutely not. I do foresee it breaking all kinds of records (Watch out, Ed Sheeran).
Here's a track by track run down of "Harry Styles" by Harry Styles:
- "Meet Me in the Hallway" - The album opens up with a beautiful acoustic guitar that sounds as if it were being played in the same key as "Space Oddity" by David Bowie. When the chorus comes around, the song grows into a full chant that is perfectly mixed with resonance in Harry's voice and melodic undertones throughout. -- 9/10
- "Sign of the Times" - First ballad of the album. In an interview with The Rolling Stone, Harry explained this song is written from a view as if a mother was giving birth to a child and there's a complication. The mother is told the child is fine but you're not going to make it. The mother has five minutes to tell the child, "Go forth and conquer." -- 9/10
- "Carolina" - This song sounds like a Beck hit that was never recorded. A song about a girl who moved to the West Coast "'cause her grandma told her" to and has befriended Styles though he wants more and as this song continues he is wanting to tell her how he feels. -- 8/10
- "Two Ghosts" - Breakup song where lovers have become ghosts of themselves. Styles may have been tapping into the heartache he felt when he and Taylor Swift had to call it off. The strains of any relationship is something everyone can relate to. "I think it's about, sometimes things change, and you can do all the same things, and sometimes its just different, you know?" - Styles explained to Billboard.com -- 8/10
- "Sweet Creature" - Great acoustic song with a picking pattern that carries it easily for almost 4 minutes. This is one of those "I dedicate this to you" songs. -- 8/10
- "Only Angel" - Fun little rock song here. Great clapping section in the chorus I'm sure they will tap into during a live show. Great riffs from the electric guitars throughout this one. Song is about a girl who's an angel for the most part but has some really bad girl tendencies... and he likes it! -- 9/10
- "Kiwi" - Putting "Only Angel" and "Kiwi" back to back was a great call by whoever put this album in its final order. It keeps the album raging and "Kiwi" is a definite step up in Rock-and-Roll from the previous tune. Lots of screaming guitars throughout! -- 9/10
- "Ever Since New York" - Smooth, easy listening song. My least favorite song on the album. The chorus is wonderful though. -- 6/10
- "Woman" - Slow jam about a guy who is being torn apart. He is left on the outside watching a girl who he likes with another guy and there is nothing he can do about it. -- 7/10
- "From the Dining Table" - Acoustic post-breakup tune. About a guy who is not dealing with the breakup well. When you're in the pit of despair after your heart is ripped out, you know the chorus has came across your mind "Maybe one day you'll call me and tell me that you're sorry too" but then the realization sets in "But you, you never do" -- 8/10
Really enjoyed this album. Way more than I thought I would. FINAL SCORE 81%
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