This one’s called ‘the pop star’s reinvention as a serious artist’. You’ve heard it before.
Harry Styles, he of glorious hair and screaming fanbase, is the second member of One Direction to furnish us with a solo record and, much like Zayn Malik’s ‘Mind of Mine’, it’s above all else deeply grown up and ready to be viewed as a thoughtful musical statement.
From its plain-spoken title to its earnest lyrics, which are perhaps more warts-and-all than expected, Styles’ debut is confident in a functional, understated manner. As an album it’s neither carefree nor fun. Instead, it’s solid, executed with care and precision and beige. Given the star wattage possessed by its creator, it’s a tad underwhelming.
And, because Styles was in One Direction, his boring songs will not be afforded the same amount of slack as similarly boring songs by bands like Elbow or Coldplay.
It feels like any pop trappings here have been scratched to avoid those easy potshots from landing. Really, that says more about a sort of rockist critical omertà than Styles’ music.
At this point it’s worth asking what we were hoping for from Styles the solo artist. Something that went ahead and doubled down on his pop persona? A lascivious slide into R&B? Songs that played up to the Mick Jagger streak that’s long been bubbling under? All possibilities.
But a contemplative, quiet collection of acoustic songs peppered with boozy rockers? Didn’t see that coming, and it’s hardly a combination to make you sit up and start caring. More than anything, this feels like a sensible, risk-free start. It’s got sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll in the quantities prescribed by Radio 2 and if it doesn’t often set sails billowing to send us racing towards excitement and adventure, it also resolutely avoids sinking the boat in the harbour.
Styles navigates these new surroundings nicely. His performance throughout is excellent and, in reality, elevates a good number of these songs beyond rote origins (strap in for a straight up Benny and the Jets lift on Woman and more than one nod to peak Rod Stewart). His voice is malleable and expressive, moving from the falsetto pre-chorus of Sign of the Times - which is better here than when cut adrift as a single - to the gregarious strut of Kiwi with some ease. There are melodies here, too, that take a couple of listens to fully reveal their worth.
It’s nevertheless an uneven ride that leaves us in the dark with regard to Styles’ future plans. It would be a shock if he continued to mine this well-trodden ground throughout his solo career, if only because it allows for so little of his personality to escape. That much can perhaps be forgiven this time around - debut solo records are very rarely bulletproof - but a little more glitz to go with the soul-searching would be welcome next time.
Harry Styles Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun October 29 2017 - LONDON Eventim Apollo
Mon October 30 2017 - LONDON Eventim Apollo
Wed November 01 2017 - MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
Thu November 02 2017 - GLASGOW SEC Armadillo
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