It is without a doubt that Harry Styles is back — and feeling refreshed. After a two-year hiatus, the British pop phenomenon has returned with his fourth album, “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.” Following a three year hiatus after wrapping up his world tour in the summer of 2023, the former One Direction member has returned with 12 new tracks for an eager fanbase.
In a conversation with Japanese author Haruki Murakami for Runner’s World, Styles, who rarely engaged with social media in his time off, provided further details about his travels, which included Japan, Spain, Germany and Italy. He mentioned being heavily influenced by the music of these locations, namely the dance clubs in Berlin, and the beginnings of what would become his new album, which fans are already referring to as “KISSCO.”
“Good electronic music is so good, you know — especially the melodic aspect,” Styles explained, “When you’re out at night, it’s such a community, but you’re also watching people have such individual experiences…I wanted to recreate [what] I had on the dance floor, being lost in instrumentation and the musicality. It was so immersive, like, this is how I want to feel when I’m on stage too. I don’t want it to feel like a sermon I’m delivering. I wanted it to feel like we're in this music together. Like I’m in it with you.”
Much of Styles’ album encompasses these exact feelings. From the repetition of the lyrics “We belong together” in his first song “Aperture” to the wide range of instruments and sound effects in “Ready, Steady, Go!”, one practically feels transported to the dance floor while listening, including Styles himself. His performance of “Aperture” at the 2026 BRIT Awards, which includes a hefty dance break, has been viewed over four million times. Viewers can see the joy on both Styles' and his dancers’ faces. It is clear that he is thrilled to be back to performing.
However, it is not all “Coming up Roses” (see track 8) for Styles, as numerous media outlets have criticized the new album for aspects including incomprehensible lyrics, general disorganization among tracks and a lack of a clear message behind the album. British news organization The Telegraph rated “KISSCO” 3/5 stars, with chief music critic Neil McCormick claiming the album has “all the emotional heft of a perfume advert,” and New York Times pop music critic Lindsay Zoladz describing the overall feel of the album as “a murky self-portrait that obscures as much as it reveals.” Many critiques of this album have raised a question worth considering: What exactly is going on in this album? In classic Styles fashion, he begins with dance-centered hits, but balances it out with more somber tunes such as “The Waiting Game” and “Paint by Numbers.” “KISSCO” encompasses a variety of lyrics, sounds and effects — but does it work?
I’ve been a fan of Harry Styles for almost 10 years now. I listened to “What Makes you Beautiful” on my iPod Touch more times than I could count as a child; when one of my now-best friends and I first met, we bonded over our love for his music. Upon seeing Styles’ album announcement earlier this year, I was thrilled, and I counted down the days until its release. I agree with many reviews emphasizing the difference in sound on this album; however, my thoughts are a bit less critical.
In reviewing this album, one could critique the organization of Styles’ more exciting and more somber tunes, or the occasional inability to understand a song’s lyrics. But while listening to this album, I found that it was exactly what I wanted to hear from Styles upon his return. The mixture of poignant orchestra and anthems that I’m sure I’ll be singing along to in a week’s time works well for me as a listener, and, as a result, the album comes off as some of Styles’ most personal work yet.
In an interview with long-time stylist Harry Lambert for The Telegraph, Styles emphasizes how personal this album is, even comparing it to “an audio representation of a long diary entry.” Styles seems to have found a lot of value in stepping away from music; in addition to his travels heavily influencing “KISSCO,” so did his time spent relaxing. He mentions to Lambert that, “living my life in a way where I could really like who I am away from this world has been so powerful for me. Without question that has influenced the work I’m now making because it came from a place of pure freedom.”
In addition to McCormick’s specific comparison of “KISSCO,” his review asks the reader: “Is Harry Styles the low-stakes hero we need right now?” Maybe not, but that does not mean that this is not a fun album to listen to. The music industry is well known to be demanding. Many artists today begin creating hits and do not stop until they are exhausted or their physical or mental health demands it. Take fellow British phenomenon Lola Young, for example, whose breakout hit “Messy” catapulted her to worldwide fame in 2025, immediately creating a busy schedule for the artist. However, the whirlwind of events and promotions caused a deterioration in Young’s health.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, she explained this paradox: “You want to say yes to everything because everything’s on the table, but then you also have to balance that with your mental health, and I’ve been super open about my mental-health condition that I suffer from, and also about all the other stuff that’s going on for me.”
That September, in the middle of her performance at New York’s All Things Go festival, Young ended her set early after falling backwards and going rigid. Now, back in public life, Young is prioritizing her health, slowing down, and shifting her relationship with music. In the same interview, she explained: “One thing that’s really helped me is slowing down, mentally, taking time to process…Days off, that’s really important.”
In an industry where so many artists begin creating music and often do not stop until exhaustion, it is refreshing to see a mainstream artist like Styles prioritize his own well-being and return with an album in which he emphasizes the enjoyment he had whilst creating it. While listening to “KISSCO,” I often considered some of Styles’ final words to Lambert: “When I listen back to the album, I can hear that I was having fun during this time. It’s fulfilling to make something you’re proud of.” Styles’ pure joy on this record is apparent, bringing to the listener as well.
Despite critiques, the BBC reports that “KISSCO” has topped the UK album charts, making it Styles’ third time doing so as a solo artist. Perhaps we all need to have some of Styles’ joy.
I believe “KISSCO” will remain a hit for a long time –– and deservedly so considering the strong influence Styles has on the pop culture world. While its songs have not made my top 5 list yet, I believe they will continue to grow on me and many others, whether they are dedicated fans since Styles’ days on “The X Factor” or new listeners who heard one of his tunes on the radio. After all, who doesn’t want to have a dance party on their walk to class?
