HARRY STYLES ‘STEPS INTO THE LIGHT’ WITH GREAT ALBUM
Arriving just in time to mess up everyone’s best-of-theyear music lists is Harry Styles’ sophomore album, “Fine Line.”
The former One Direction member richly deserves a spot on yours.
The 12-track album continues Styles’ tour through his musical influences—his salute to rock royalty—and yet also shows signs that he’s coming up with his own sound.
“Shine, step into the light,” he sings. It is advice he is also taking.
The men of One Direction are each taking their own direction, but Styles’ proves the most ambitious (Take notes, Liam Payne).
He’s cowritten every song and also adds guitar, dulcimer and supplies backing vocals.
Styles has reunited with producers Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon, who helped mold his sound on his first album.
And the singles released so far—the psychedelic foot-stomper “Watermelon Sugar,” the soaring, soulful “Lights Up” and the blissful poppy “Adore You”—are all different and great.
There’s also the Queen-ish “Treat People with Kindness,” which is a cheerful, funky slice of ’70s, with hand-claps, tambourine and Styles trading verses with a choir.
The most challenging song is “She,” which has a Lennon-mccartney vibe, grinding guitar and crazy keys. Lyrically, it’s a cousin to “Eleanor Rigby.”
Sometimes, the album feels like a game of Guess the Influence. “Canyon Moon”? Bob Dylan. “Golden”? Beach Boys, right? “She”? A bit of Santana. But Styles’ references are lighter this time than in his debut. He’s less aping his heroes than just using some of their colors.
There are callbacks to his first album. That had the song “Kiwi” and the new one has more luscious fruits—strawberries, cherry and that watermelon.