by: Sahil Muthukrishnan
Culture Editor

Grammy award-winning artist Harry Styles dropped his long-awaited project, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally., on Mar. 6. The singer’s famously dedicated fans were hungry for a new record, with his last release being all the way back in 2022 with Harry’s House, his critically acclaimed album. His community is already warmly receiving the new project.

Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. opens with its leading single, Aperture. Right from the song’s inception, the overwhelming feeling of fun is clear. The track has a distinctive techno feel, heavily showing the inspiration the album takes from American dance-punk band LCD Soundsystem. The catchy hook infects its listeners with the urge to get up and dance. The single would undoubtedly fit in at a crowded club or an active party.

In contrast with its predecessor, track two, American Girls, carries a more mellow energy. The song feels a little aimless, but it still fits into the lineup. It’s a perfect track to pop on during a bout of sadness or loss of purpose. It’s not going to win any awards for sophistication, but it certainly has its place within the album’s flow.

Ready, Steady, Go is the project’s third entry. From the get-go, the track is active and alive. Its backing track sounds almost like a malfunctioning computer from the 90s or 2000s with various beeps. It’s jarring at first, but it becomes quite enjoyable by the end of the song.

Track four, Are You Listening Yet, is similarly alive. Its cadence resembles a galloping horse, running along constantly. The ever-present beat cuts out suddenly before the hook, adding to the song’s atmosphere and making Styles’s “now you’re all out of choices, are you listening yet?” hit even harder. It has an unprocessed feeling that keeps one engaged.

Taste Back, the record’s fifth song, is reminiscent of Styles’s earlier hits, like those on Harry’s House. The infectious hook, “you just need a little love,” invites listeners in. It’s a standout, carrying a nostalgic tone. The song is colorful and reassuring. It makes one feel like they are floating and peaceful. Taste Back is perfect for a long car ride or a day of introspection.

The Waiting Game, track six, is a return to the whimsy that so many of Styles’s fans enjoy. The strums of a guitar accompany Styles’s soothing vocals, putting any listeners at ease despite the slightly somber tone, with Styles’s efforts all “add[ing] up to nothing.” Part of the track’s buoyancy comes from the frequent squeaks. They sound something like a Game Boy or an old Casio watch and evoke images of pixel game sprites.

Some of the project’s other standouts include: Coming Up Roses, which features orchestral plucking and an incredible vocal performance from Styles; Dance No More, with its sturdy bass line and relaxed energy; and Carla’s Song, an ethereal feeling track that still maintains undercurrents of techno.

Though it might feel aimless at times, Styles’s record has great music that fans are sure to enjoy for months. With so much variety in his catalogue, it’s exciting to anticipate what he might do next.