Harry Styles' New Album Sparks Critical Divide Ahead of Release
Harry Styles' highly anticipated fourth studio album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, has ignited a sharp division among music critics ahead of its official release this Friday. The 32-year-old pop star's first record in four years, which features his recent Brit Awards single "Aperture", is being met with reviews that range from effusive praise to pointed criticism, highlighting the polarising nature of his latest artistic direction.
Mixed Reviews from Major Publications
The Telegraph awarded the album three out of five stars, delivering a particularly scathing assessment by describing it as having "all the emotional heft of a perfume advert". Their review further characterised the work as "strange, shallow and soon to be inescapable", suggesting that while it may lack depth, its commercial appeal is undeniable. Similarly, The Guardian also gave it three stars, noting that the listening experience is "nice all the time, good, occasionally". Their critique focused on Styles' lyrical shortcomings, stating: "The music on Styles' new album is muted, subtle and pleasant – but from the title downwards, he has a real problem with words."
Enthusiastic Praise from Other Outlets
In stark contrast, the BBC offered a far more enthusiastic take, hailing the album as "the funkiest existential crisis in pop" and drawing favourable comparisons to artists like LCD Soundsystem, Tom Tom Club, and Gang Of Four. The review praised Styles for occupying "an interesting space for a stadium-conquering pop star", adding: "all credit to him for being brave enough to dwell in limbo for the duration of an entire record. As a portrait of an artist at a crossroads, it's compellingly knotty."
Metro was even more effusive, granting a perfect five out of five stars and declaring: "Brat summer's reign is finally over, it's time for Kissco spring." The publication highlighted the album's consistency, noting: "Each of the 12 tracks feels intentional in its inclusion, and while some songs are slower or softer against the disco mood, the album is consistent in quality." They also observed that the joy Styles found during his time away from the studio, which included extensive travels across Europe, "radiates from the album".
The Independent's Positive Assessment
The Independent's Roisin O'Connor awarded the album four out of five stars, describing it as "personal, bold and finally sounding like himself". O'Connor's review emphasised Styles' unique position in the pop landscape, stating: "It's almost a relief to have Styles back, given how women in pop have been doing so much of the work in recent years, and really, he has no true male peer... No one can match his level of pizzazz." She concluded that by stepping away, Styles has returned with "newfound clarity and, more importantly, music that actually sounds like him".
Upcoming Tour and Promotional Events
To support the new release, Styles will embark on the ambitious 'Together, Together' global tour, kicking off in May with dates across Amsterdam, New York, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Melbourne, and Sydney. The tour includes a notable 12-night residency at Wembley Stadium, which could set a new record for the most performances by any artist at the national stadium in a single year. Additionally, fans can catch a one-off show at Manchester's Co-Op Live this Friday, which will be available to stream on Netflix on Sunday, providing broader access to his live performances.
As the release date approaches, the critical reception underscores the album's complex and divisive nature, positioning it as a significant moment in Styles' evolving career. Whether audiences will align with the praise or the criticism remains to be seen, but the discourse itself highlights his enduring impact on contemporary pop music.
