Harry Styles: Harry’s House

The third album by global pop megastar Harry Styles is next up for review.

Side A opens with ‘Music for A Sushi Restaurant’ a pulsating high energy pop banger. With some interesting lyrics to say the least. It’s a song that instantly grabs listeners. His vocal dips in and out of different styles and the instrumentation, pulsates and changes throughout. Quite the opener. ‘Late Night Talking’ follows. This is the kind of song we’ve come to expect from Harry, a more traditional pop tune. This song wouldn’t sound out of place on his previous two solo efforts. That’s by no means a criticism of the song, it’s familiar but it’s still a great song. Shimmering pop with nods to the 80s, that provides an intimate look into Harry’s head. 

‘Grapejuice’ slows things down a little. More soulful than the previous two efforts. It’s got a little bit of The Beatles in there, and continues Harry’s fruit themed song titles. It’s a real slow song, and the album is better for it. Fans can stop and catch their breath. Lyrically this song is one of the albums best to. 

‘As it Was’ the albums lead single is the fourth track on Side A. This is one of the best things Harry has ever done. It’s a perfect pop song. With a huge chorus, instantly quotable lyrics. It’s a universal pop banger. A true highlight of the record. Bombastic and yet intimate to. ‘Daylight’ follows and sees Harry dip into the world of R&B, this song is all about the instrumentation which takes centre stage when vocals are subdued. This record sees Harry embrace new styles and ideas, but nothing feels out of place. It’s brilliantly done. 

‘Little Freak’ is the penultimate song on Side A. Powered by dark synths and drum machines. It’s one of the best vocal deliveries on the record. A dark moving affair, that tackles a relationship, in a very different way to what we’ve come to expect from Harry style. The folky ‘Matilda’ ends Side A, an acoustic song, a nod to Joni Mitchell. Which sees Harry trying to navigate how his life has changed. This shows a real different side to Harry and is one of my favourite songs on the record. Sometimes keeping things simple can convey the most important message. 

Side B opens with ‘Cinema’ which sees Harry try his hand at disco. Weaving his lyrics in between the layers or a brilliantly crafted danceable beat. ‘Daydreaming’ is another highlight, with one of the albums best choruses. It's up there with ‘As It Was’ in that regard. Harry is taking us through his inner thoughts, this song, in particular, feels very conversation-based. 

‘Keep Driving’ sometimes falls over a little lyrically. It does the Alex Turner thing of including weird combinations of words. ‘Cocaine- side boob’ etc. However it still makes for an intriguing listen. With the chorus posing a question for the listener. ‘Should we just, Keep Driving?’ 

‘Satelite’ is my favourite track on the record and sees the listener head to space. With Sc-Fi drones and chant like vocals. This song transports the listener to outer space. It has an unbelievable guitar solo, and is musically probably the best song on the record. ‘Boyfriends’ is the penultimate track a finger picking guitar relationship examination. A real back down to earth song, after what has come before. Its another string to Styles bow. This record is comfortably his best. He's making the music he wants to make, when he wants to make it. Three albums in the shackles are off. ‘Love of My Life’ ends the record. A similar sounding song to ‘Little Freak’ with dark synths and drum machines. With a unique vocal delivery that sees Harry switch it up multiple times. One of the albums most underrated songs. 

Its a perfectly crafted pop record. Harry’s House is an album that requires many listens. An album that sees Harry at his biggest and  most intimate. Harry’s House is not a place it’s Harry’s thoughts, feelings and ideas. Home really is where the heart is