Boyband heartthrob, Harry Styles, took his fans by surprise when he released his rock-esque solo debut album in May of 2017. Now his sophomore album, “Fine Line,” grasped another risky music turn as Harry moved on from his rock sound to a more British-pop influence.
Just like almost every hit artist on the market, what’s an artist without at least one album about breakup? “Fine line,” is essentially an entire love letter to his ex-girlfriend, Camille Rowe, a French-American model who he dated for about a year, according to Elite Daily.
Styles even admitted to being influenced by shrooms when creating his album masterpiece, if that’s any indication over how entrancing “Fine Line” is. It’s almost as if Styles is holding your hand and carrying you through a field of flowers as you listen through each song.
The album starts off with a fun pop banger. His opener, “Golden,” indicates Styles’s ache for that golden lover he misses. While the lyrics are simple and sorrowful, the instrumentals upbeat feel and background “da’s” make you want to jump up and groove.
“Golden” then transitions into his album singles. His single, “Watermelon sugar,” is yet another upbeat funk, with trumpets blasting all throughout the chorus. The song is almost like a PG-13 version of the One Direction song “Olivia,” mimicking it’s trumpet funk but with a blatantly obvious sexual innuendo about his craving for watermelon sugar.
Once getting through the albums single’s, the album transitions into a mellow aura with “Cherry.” The acoustic guitar encapsulates the song, as Styles yearns, “don’t you call him what you used to call me.”
At this point in time it’s blatant Styles is jealous of a new person in his ex-girlfriend’s life. You can tell he’s finally realized his golden lover is only a lover of the past. It’s almost as if you’re there with Styles going through memory lane as the song eerily ends with a voice memo of Rowe.
Once getting past the albums ballads Styles takes you through an acoustic guitar and ukulele bop: “To Be so Lonely.” This song resembles a back-handed apology that has you on the edge of your seat, with Styles repeatedly “speak-singing” in the pre-chorus: “I’m just an arrogant son of a b**** who can’t admit when he’s sorry.” “To Be so Lonely” is that relatable break-up stage where you play the blame-game and wonder why your ex would even dare to leave you stranded alone.
Onto Styles best song of the album: “She.” “She” is essentially “Woman’s” hot older sister, which was a song on his debut album. “She” starts off similarly to Pink Floyd’s “Breathe,” with the guitar eloquently entrancing listeners. This song definitely reminds listeners that Styles hasn’t let go of his first albums rock sound quite yet.
“She lives in daydreams with me,” Styles cries out. “She” is by far a rock banger that reeks of a psychedelic sex dream, ending with an almost three minute guitar frenzy.
Completely different from “She,” Styles starts transitioning to the end with a more indie-vibe — the type of songs to make cleaning ads and coming-of-age teen flicks. You have songs like “Treat People with Kindness,” which is the perfect mixture between The Beatles and a 70’s musical number.
Styles could’ve ended the album perfectly here, but he had something better in mind.
Instead Styles strategically ended strong with “Fine Line,” which word plays with the albums title. “Fine Line” is one of those songs that would make every 2013 tumblr girls playlists, giving off clear Bon Iver vibes. With its folk sensations and lyrics such as, “We’ll get the drinks in so I’ll get to thinking of her,” reminding listeners that Rowe still has a place in Styles heart, but it’ll be alright eventually…maybe.
The album, “Fine Line,” is without a doubt a “modern-classic.” From the albums pop hits to it’s enchanting guitar riffs and indie jams, Styles did not disappoint. As the decade comes to a close, this album will certainly put you through a psychedelic spell.
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From rockstar to psychedelic popstar: Harry Styles’s “Fine Line” ends the decade in a twist
December 22, 2019
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