By Sophie Trieste

Harry Styles’ new album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, certainly has both its fans and critics. Since its release on 6 March, 2026, Kiss All the Time has soared to number one on Billboard 200, but many fans are hesitant to give this album their entire hearts. While I can’t speak for everyone, I do have some guesses as to why the album has received such a divided response.

Gareth Cattermole. ‘Harry Styles Performs 'Aperture' on Stage During The BRIT Awards 2026 at Co-op Live on February 28, 2026 in Manchester, England’. Getty Images.

As I discussed Harry Styles’ past albums with a friend, we realized that Harry has always been an experimental artist. This began as soon as he broke away from One Direction and produced his first album, Harry Styles, in 2017. Harry used this album to introduce himself as a solo performer, reflecting on his boyband days while paving the way for a new career. Two years later, Fine Line debuted, and fans were shocked by tracks like the upbeat, suggestive ‘Watermelon Sugar.’ But, like any Harry Styles album, the album was also full of honest, raw songs like ‘Falling,’ ‘Cherry,’ and ‘Fine Line.’ His third album, Harry’s House (2022), showed fans that Harry had truly broken out of his shell as a successful experimental artist. This album broke multiple records, and fans were amazed at how one album could balance the heartfelt with the carefree, with songs like ‘As It Was,’ ‘Little Freak,’ and ‘Love of My Life’ appearing alongside ‘Music For a Sushi Restaurant,’ ‘Daylight,’ and ‘Cinema’. As these first albums have shown, Harry Styles has always been one to experiment, placing sincere, emotional songs next to songs which are perfect for a night out. But what sets Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally apart is that Harry was not just focusing on switching up his lyrics, but on creating a completely new sound.

As with earlier albums, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally could have easily been separated into two completely different albums. Here, Harry contrasts songs with sparse background tracks and satisfying vocals with songs that focus on a background of layered sound effects. For example, the techno track, ‘Ready, Steady, Go,’ is so full of sound effects that you imagine Harry pressing every single button on the keyboard while recording. The song begins with a steady beat, upon which an echoing effect is layered, but 1 minute and 11 seconds into the song, Harry inserts a siren sound, which so overpowers his voice that the listener can hardly focus on what Harry is singing. If you listen to the album in order, hearing ‘Ready, Steady, Go,’ after the much-calmer ‘American Girls’ is shocking and even overstimulating. But the question is— could that be what Harry intended?

‘American Girls’ is certainly a controversial track as well. Its haters call the song ‘basic,’ implying that Harry could have written better lyrics. But those who love it praise the nostalgia evoked by the music video, which nods towards Harry’s 1D days. Fans have connected this song to One Direction’s 2013 song, ‘Kiss You’, sending a wave of nostalgia across TikTok and Instagram. Harry has yet to confirm whether ‘American Girls’ is an intentional homage to his One Direction days, but regardless, fans have loved investigating a possible hidden message.

Another song that has topped charts is ‘Coming Up Roses.’ Unlike ‘Ready, Steady, Go’ or ‘Are You Listening Yet,’ this song is lyrically vulnerable with a soft, compelling melody that compliments Harry’s sweet message. Together, these songs have been the best received on the album.

The album also has a few highly underrated tracks, however. ‘Season 2 Weight Loss’ features an upbeat background track that contrasts vulnerable lyrics, in which Harry peels back his playful shell to reveal a genuine, relatable fear of not being loved in return. Although the instrumental is unexpected, the lyrics make ‘Season 2 Weight Loss’ a standout track, which definitely deserves more appreciation.

I have been very surprised by the lack of reaction to track 5, ‘Taste Back.’ This song has everything that Harry Styles fans have loved in the past. A soft, laidback song, ‘Taste Back’ has strong lyrics and a reliable, dance-worthy beat. When I first listened to it, I felt that the song would fit perfectly into a movie soundtrack. This song feels nostalgic, and the lyrics are about connection. This thread runs throughout Harry’s entire album– hence the album listening parties that have been held in major cities around the world. If you couldn’t tell, ‘Taste Back’ is my favorite song on the album.

At first, this album surprised me– I thought, wow this is different for Harry. But the more I listen to it, the more I realize that I was wrong. Even with its unexpected elements, this album is just like any other Harry Styles album, because once again, Harry takes his fans on a journey. Some songs are better for personal listening, during which you might reflect on the lyrics, while others are better for dancing with friends. But by the end of the album, you realize that Harry’s aim throughout has been to reach out to his listeners. This is an album for connecting with others, whether it’s through Harry’s new sound, his meaningful lyrics, or, simply, the love for a Harry Styles album.

My Ranking, After First Listen