By Emma Rassi (Y8)
When Harry Styles released his 4th studio album “Kiss all the time, disco occasionally”, expectations were high with his last album “Harry’s house” topping charts around the world and even winning album of the year at the 2023 Grammys, yet this new album was released nearly 4 years after his last, which left many fans in suspense. And let me tell you, they were not disappointed.
The new album is very different from what Harry Styles has done in the past, and many fans are here for it (even though some are comparing the backing tracks to Ross from F.r.i.e.n.d.s on his keyboard…). The album leans heavily on disco, dance-punk, and electronic tunes, marking a shift from the soft-pop and indie-rock tunes of his previous albums. The songs are dance-ready and upbeat, perfect for a late-night jam with your friends or running a marathon. Instead of the bright pop hooks from Harry Styles’ past albums, many songs feel more atmospheric, yet still uptempo – perfect for a dance floor at midnight.
Harry Styles once again collaborated with his longtime producer, Kid Harpoon, along with Tyler Johnson. The album also includes contributions from other artists, for example: Ellie Rowsell from Wolf Alice, members from the house of gospel choir, and orchestral arrangements by Jules Buckley.
The albums featured 12 songs:
- Aperture
- American Girls
- Ready, Steady, Go!
- Are You Listening Yet?
- Taste Back
- The Waiting Game
- Season 2 Weight Loss
- Coming Up Roses
- Pop
- Dance No More
- Paint By Numbers
- Carla’s Song
With songs like “Aperture” setting the tone for the album with its electronic beats, “Ready, Steady, Go” is one of the most energetic songs not only on the album, but that I’ve ever heard, “Taste back” and “Waiting game” represent the albums emotional core closer to his past albums, “Coming up Roses” stands out because of its orchestral arrangement, almost being cinematic and “Carla’s song” is one of the most personal songs on the album with deep themes of friendship.
Despite mixed critical opinions, the album has been a commercial success. Within two days of its release, it sold over 125,000 copies in the UK and achieved one of the biggest streaming debuts of 2026 (statistic from thesun.co.uk).
Overall, “Kiss all the time, Disco occasionally” (in my opinion) is a success. Personally, I love its upbeat vibes, and it feels like a transitional album into the new era of Harry Styles.