Fan Review: Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally

It’s officially a new era for Harry Styles and Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally might honestly be one of my absolute favorites from him yet.

Harry Styles is no stranger to fan adoration and the success that comes with it. By the final stop of his 2023 tour, one of the highest-grossing tours of all time, over 100,000 people showed up just to watch him take his last bow. For almost three years, he stepped away from everything, leaving fans wondering when or if he’d come back. What we didn’t know was that he wasn’t even sure of this himself. He took that time to figure out who he was outside of the spotlight, and this album feels like the result of that.

Released March 6, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally feels experimental but fully authentic. It’s full of strong synths, electric guitars, distorted vocals, and heavy bass, but it still feels like Harry. It’s different from anything he’s done before and shows the growth he experienced during his time away from the spotlight.

The album opens with “Aperture,” and it’s possibly his most ambitious lead single yet. It’s long, layered, and super production-heavy and pulls you in wanting more. This is a great song to begin with and it sets the tone for a creative and out of the box experience that we haven’t seen from Harry before.

Where things get really different from his past work is with tracks like “Ready, Steady, Go!” which shows a complete shift in his sound. It is apparent he was inspired by techno and club music which brings a bold and upbeat sound and is one of the most exciting moments on the album. This song is full of energy and is exhilarating to listen to. It drives a let loose and dance type of energy and brings a fresh sound to his discography. His usual sound from previous albums have always been safe, but we can see he is venturing out and trying new things which definitely pays off.

My personal favorite from the album is “Season 2 Weight Loss.” Upon first listen this song had me fully immersed and easily became a song that I have played on repeat. It feels more emotional than anything else on the album with this strong, layered production that sticks with you long after it ends. The song starts with a drum heavy beat and a cool synth sound, and has lyrics that revolve around the heavy yet hopeful feeling that comes with change. The repetition in the lyrics, especially that feeling of asking “Do you love me now?”, makes it feel vulnerable in a way that’s hard to ignore. It’s one of those songs that allows you to truly feel something and is a stand-out on the album.

Another favorite is “Carla’s Song,” which feels like such a genuine moment between Harry and his fans. It’s warm and nostalgic and is very comforting to listen to. I felt it came from a true place of appreciation, and it added a personal layer to the album. The energy mirrors the push and pull between intimacy and distance, wrapping it all in a sense of hope. The lyrics “It’s all waiting there for you” during this section becomes addicting and ties up the whole album seamlessly. The song brings connection and brings the sense of closeness many of us fans have been missing since Harry’s hiatus.

Lastly from my top 3 favorites, there’s “Taste Back,” which leans more into that classic Harry storytelling about relationships and reconnecting with someone. It’s emotional with catchy lyrics and an addicting sound. “Taste Back” is one of those songs that can be easily resonated with due to its authenticity with the lyrics and the upbeat sound. This is a truly dynamic song and brings in a feeling of nostalgia with the 80’s inspired sound. I have a strong feeling that this will be the track most people will gravitate towards being in their top favorites as well.

What makes this album so good overall is how cohesive it feels. Every song adds something to the bigger picture of where he is right now as an artist. The album shows fans and the media that he has grown not only himself but with his sound as well. The album reflects about him finally feeling comfortable doing exactly what he wants. There’s something really refreshing about an artist who isn’t trying to chase hits anymore, and you can hear that freedom on every track.

Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally feels like Harry has truly spent time figuring his sound out and is a no skip album. It’s experimental, emotional and makes me excited for the future of Harry Styles.