A Walk Through “Harry’s House”
Pitchfork
June 14, 2022
Label: Columbia and Erskine Records
Producers: Kid Harpoon, Tyler Johnson, Samuel Witte
Release Date: May 20, 2022
Rating: 5/5
It has been almost a month since the release of Harry Styles’ third studio album, Harry’s House, and I believe I have recovered enough to give my thoughts on this masterpiece of an album. Harry’s House contains thirteen songs and runs for a total of 41 minutes and 59 seconds. Within those 41 minutes and 59 seconds, listeners are thrown into so many different types of songs… ones that make you want to get up and dance and others that make you question your entire existence on the planet.
Styles’ second album, Fine Line, was released in 2019, and held similar effects on audiences on their first listen. After two very successful albums, a widely popular world tour, and a huge increase in career growth in the past three years alone, I was wondering if Styles had the ability to wow fans once again with another standout album. The short answer is: Yes. He has indeed wowed us again.
Before its release, Styles released the lead single for the album, “As It Was,” along with a music video. The single was a perfect way to tease the album, and give fans a preview of what the rest of the album may sound like. “As It Was” gives a 1980s dance feel, accompanied by more serene vocals. It’s definitely an easy song to dance to even when the lyrics hold a more serious meaning. The video shows Styles in a sparkly red jumpsuit, and he seems to start the video more closed off and unhappy, and by the end he is ecstatic and dancing in his true Styles fashion. My fingers are crossed in the hope that “As It Was” does not become an overplayed single like “Watermelon Sugar.”
“As It Was” fits into the fourth track slot on this album. One thing that I will not stop talking about on this album is how perfectly I feel like all of the songs flow into the other. I’m going to break down the thirteen tracks on the album, and explain why I believe that Harry’s House is Harry Styles’ strongest album yet.
Track one starts us off strong. Music for a Sushi Restaurant is such a fun and upbeat song and introduces the vibe of the rest of the album perfectly. During my first listen, I remember thinking that this felt so different from Styles’ typical upbeat music, but the new sound fits this new “Harry era” perfectly. The song has been used in Apple Music promotions, and people have been making jokes about how this song sounds like it could be in the background of an Old Navy ad. While I see their points, I still believe this beats the other “track ones” (sorry, Golden) and is the best way to start this album.
Late Night Talking is yet another fun and totally danceable track on this album. Following Music For A Sushi Restaurant, the pace slows down a little bit but does not kill the vibe. Styles teased this song at Coachella, so fans had already heard some bits and pieces of this song. The full track did not disappoint. After the first two tracks, it’s easy to tell by the lyrics that Mr. Styles has been quite enamored by someone during the production of this album. While the beat of the songs are fast, I find the lyrics to be quite romantic.
The third track on this album slows down drastically, and I’m hesitant to say that this is my favorite song on the album (simply because they are all so amazing). Grapejuice is another romantic feeling song that I just want to sing in the car with my windows down. If I needed to describe the way a sunset feels with any song, I would definitely pick this one. Throughout the song, Styles whispers “1…2…3…” along with a wavy keyboard and electric guitar. I would recommend putting this song on a playlist for music when you’re just trying to chill out and maybe need to put a little smile on your face.
After the fourth track As It Was, track five hits us with another romantic bop, Daylight. My favorite line in this song is “If I was a bluebird, I would fly to you/ You’d be the spoon/ Dip you in honey so I could be sticking to you.” This song has an amazing instrumental portion that made my eyes fill with tears on my first listen. Daylight has become one of the more popular songs on the album due to the music video that Styles made on the Late Late Show directed by James Corden. It’s worth the watch for some classic Styles-Corden content.
Little Freak slows us down again with, you guessed it, another romantic song. This song is romantic in the way that it makes me want to curl up in a ball and be sad about the world. I believe the title to be deceptive. Little Freak makes me think of a hot and heavy feeling song, like Redbone by Childish Gambino. I was pleasantly surprised by the actual sound of the song.
Enter track seven, Matilda. Matilda is the centerpiece of this album and is devastatingly beautiful. Styles sings of a girl who comes from an unloving family and paves her way on her own without them. In my opinion, this is the saddest song on the album, and the saddest one that he has ever put out. It has definitely reached out to all of the “Matildas” out there and is a tearjerker every time you listen. The guitar on this album is intentionally played incorrectly at parts to reflect the brokenness that Matilda has felt her whole life. The lyrics and meaning behind the song make it a worthwhile listen.
It feels like a whiplash, but after the depression that Matilda puts us into, track eight hits us with Cinema. If I could describe this song in one word, it is “groovy.” I have no doubt in my mind that this track is connected to Styles’ girlfriend, Olivia Wilde. Given that she is a popular director and he is the star of her upcoming film, Don’t Worry Darling. This song is one of the more sexy songs on the album. Cinema is a fun bop and is a good recovery song after Matilda.
Track nine is definitely bringing the vibes back up with Daydreaming. On his “One Night Only” show on the day of the album’s release, Styles said that this song was one of his favorites on the album and he “can’t stop singing it.” This strays from the romantic vibe that felt so strong at the beginning but is still referencing a relationship. Daydreaming seems to fit the new “Styles sound” that I mentioned earlier, and I love how appropriate it feels for the album.
Keep Driving falls into the track ten slot, and it is definitely a favorite of mine on the album. This song keeps the romantic vibes pumping. The car that Styles is singing about in this song seems to be referencing a relationship. “A small concern with how the engine sounds/ We held darkness in withheld clouds/ I would ask, ‘Should we just keep driving?’” This song is also perfect for a road playlist or any good feelings playlist. The lyrics are fun, and the way they are sung leads me to believe that all of the short phrases are references to memories in this relationship.
Track eleven is another that brings tears to my eyes (in a cool way). Satellite starts out very slow and solemn until about one minute into the song, it picks up. The song makes me feel like I’m in outer space and there is a catchy drum beat accompanied by Styles’ beautiful vocals. This is the song on the album that I feel truly displays the talents of his voice. There are so many high notes, and the overall diversity of tone and pitch in the song is amazing.
Boyfriends. Gracefully falling into the number twelve slot on the album. Boyfriends is the other song on this album that makes me want to shrivel up into a teeny tiny ball. At the “One Night Only” show, Styles introduced this song by saying that it is for “anyone who’s had a boyfriend, anyone who’s never had a boyfriend, anyone who’s been or never been a boyfriend, and anyone who has ever had their heart broken by a boyfriend.” The song is very solemn and is pretty much just about how boyfriends can really be the worst sometimes.
The thirteenth and final track of the album is Love Of My Life. This song is so beautiful and shows off Styles’ vocals in a more subtle manner. It’s sad but perfect at the same time and reinforced the themes of romance through the tracks. The piano at the end of the song is an impeccable way to end this album.
It isn’t dramatic of me to say that this may be one of my favorite albums of all time. The strong emotions in the album are clear and you feel them, but even through the sad parts, this album leaves me feeling good and positive. If you haven’t listened to this album, I strongly recommend that you do. It’s a perfect 42 minutes and a good way to spend your rides to and from work.
