His pivot away from pop-rock is a welcome one, although there are moments when it ends up being too much of a good thing.Ĭapital Pride Alliance Names 2022 Capital Pride Honors Recipients The funk elements that recur throughout the album help Styles channel some of the laid-back coolness of the era, a gimmick that pays off nicely when paired with other production choices like synthpop and jazz elements.
That ethos is much more apparent on the album’s opener, “Music for a Sushi Restaurant,” which starts strong with a funky bass line leading into some infectious rhythms paired with lyrics seemingly designed to leave you wondering if he’s in love or just hungry.ĭespite his voice getting lost in the production a handful of times, it’s all just silly enough to work without coming across as overly forced. The single “As It Was,” which dropped in April, is a fun enough track, but doesn’t quite prepare a listener for the playful, even goofy mood Styles finds himself in. If 2019’s Fine Line was all about playing around with different styles and influences to see what clicked for him, Harry’s House feels like the one where Styles turns off cruise control and more deliberately leans into his strengths.
