Youthful Styles shines; Blondie’s and company back on turf

B- Harry Styles Harry Styles Columbia When listening to Harry Styles’ solo debut, it will be hard to not think of David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Elton John and other rock icons who came decades before the former boy bander.

The good thing for Styles, 23, is that he proves he’s worth checking out.

The 10-track album is a solid set that proves that former One Direction member Styles has some direction: “Two Ghosts” is probably his strongest song; “Only Angel” is full of Jagger swagger; the single “Sign of the Times,” is dreamy and melodic.

Much of the credit belongs to Grammy-winning super producer Jeff Bhasker, whose drum-filled sound has aided Kanye West, Jay Z, fun. and Bruno Mars. Bhasker, with producers Tyler Johnson and Alex Salibian, share writing credit with Styles on most of the songs.

Styles’ voice varies on each song as he emotes lyrics like a seasoned star, especially on the simple piano tune “From the Dining Table” and “Meet Me in the Hallway.” The performance aspect of the album is where Styles shines.

But the creative process? Not so much. The album relies too much on the sound of others: “Woman,” for example, feels way too much like “Bennie and the Jets.”

Hot tracks: “Two Ghosts,” “Sign of the Times” — MESFIN FEKADU,

The Associated Press

B Blondie Pollinator BMG Blondie updates its sound of recent years by returning to some familiar and successful foundations.

Joan Jett joins the band on opener “Doom or Destiny,” one of the few tracks written by Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein, but its thump sets the right tone.

“Long Time,” penned by Harry and Devonte Hynes (Blood Orange), is a “Heart of Glass” offshoot and mentions the Bowery, the home of club CBGB where Blondie was an early performer along with the Ramones, Patti Smith and Television, to name a few. The nostalgia is justified, “running circles ’round a night that never ends.”

“Already Naked” also evokes classic Blondie vibrations circa 1979, while Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio contributes “Fun,” whose Nile Rodgers-like guitar and disco chorus sounds ripe for a Scissor Sisters cover, should they return. “When I Gave Up on You” is a perfectly fine ballad marred by The Gregory Brothers’ Auto-Tune shtick.

Closer “Fragments” starts and ends in a cloud of gloom but the band, propelled by drummer Clem Burke and Harry’s passionate vocals, pulls out the stops during a vigorous middle section. At nearly seven minutes long, there’s plenty of time for the mood changes.

Hot tracks: “Doom or Destiny,” “Long Time,” “Fun” — PABLO GORONDI,

The Associated Press

The cover of Harry Styles, formerly of One Direction