Harry’s second album highlights a surprising new direction
Forget what you know about Harry Styles. The former One Direction star shed his boy band shell long ago, and his upcoming release, Fine Line, showcases a breadth of talent which is surprising and challenging.
Three singles have already been released from the album, due out today. These singles are on the A-side of this record but they don’t do the two-disc album justice.
That’s not to say these pop wonderlust creations, Adore You, Watermelon Sugar and Lights Up, aren’t any good. They’re dreamy, feel-good summer songs mostly about love, sex and breakups. Nothing wrong with that.
For most of Styles’ diehard pop-heads, I suspect these will be their favourite tracks of the entire 12-track album. The early releases are great, but also show a predictable evolution of an artist whose talent is already well documented.
The rest of the album is where the surprises hide.
The B-side is a treasure chest of bottled emotion which screams for attention. These four songs are clearly differentiated from the happy-go-lucky sound we’ve been teased with already.
The A-side tracks fit well with, and I suspect are largely written about, Taylor Swift. Songs such as Watermelon Sugar will happily populate any top 25 playlist.
They share enthusiasm and optimism for true love, upbeat drums and somewhat repetitive but still very catchy lyrics.
But on the B-side the happiness is replaced with selfcontemplation, regret and raw emotion. Cherry is addressed to a former partner who has moved on, leaving the writer in her tracks.
In contrast to earlier songs, it starts with an almost country feel. It’s just two guitars picking their way towards the singer’s eventual declarations of jealousy and obsession.
But like any good rom-com, the pace picks up – some wellused and upbeat drums kick in to bring us back to what feels like a happy ending.
Styles is gently guiding the listener towards much darker themes through this well-crafted and curated album.
The next song, Falling ,is powerful and emotional. It feels more like something bands such as The National would produce, rather than someone who made his name after appearing on The X Factor UK.
Its lyrics speak of self-doubt, self-criticism and selfantagonism, which is bedded in music that allows for quiet contemplation rather than anything remotely joyful. Needless to say, this is my favourite track by far.
Falling, among other songs, shows an artist willing to try new things and explore new genres. It’s a warning shot, of sorts, across the music world, from an artist who is showing he can compete in almost any genre (expect, I’m happy to say, hiphop).
Later tracks, such as She, incorporate jazz. The album spends great amounts of time playing with nostalgic psychedelia and funk, repurposing a sound more acquainted to the 1970s or 80s.
Perhaps the most surprising is Treat People with Kindness, which sounds like something that would go off at a Christian youth camp, and would have fitted in well during communion at my local Catholic church.
It starts with a small choir, who implore us to create a place of wholesomeness where we can treat each other with respect and love. The track could give Hillsong a run for their money.
And it makes me wonder if
Styles is trolling us, playing a game where he nails almost every genre of music.
And secondly, what’s with these hedonistic men – Styles and, before him, Kanye West (who just released Jesus is King) – releasing music which is holier than thou?
The entire C-side is an exploration of genre, which sometimes feels like a showcase of movie soundtracks.
Sunflower should be snapped up for a 1980s teen flick, Canyon Moon is an obvious fit for an American road film.
This album, which is sectioned in vinyl format with clear themes from each side, then ends with the one-track D-side, the title song Fine Line.
In an earlier interview, Styles told Zane Lowe why he chose to leave One Direction.
He said he was sick of making predictable music, which was sure to please but too shallow and too dull to keep him entertained.
This album, he said, was all about ‘‘fun’’.
If fun, for Styles, is packing a heap of surprises into one of the most diverse pop albums of the year, then Fine Line is an undeniable success.
Fine Line from Columbia Records is out today.