Harry Styles dropped his new album, Fine Line, on Friday and though I'm still digesting it, several of the songs are already burying themselves into my consciousness. One of my favorites is this one, Sunflower, Volume 6. It's sunshiney and happy and well, take a listen and see what I mean. Here's a live performance of the song, as well as the original audio below it.
Harry Styles debuted a new song from his upcoming Fine Line on SNL Saturday night as he did double duty as both host and musical guest. The song is a bit closer to some of the softer tracks on the singer's debut eponymous album, and very catchy too. Check out Watermelon Sugar...
Harry Styles isn't the only former One Directioner to put out new music lately. Fellow crooner Niall Horan just released this very likable tune from his upcoming second album. Check out Nice To Meet Ya...
Wow, wow, wow! I guess I was just as surprised...maybe even more surprised than anybody that Harry Styles dropped a new song yesterday. Of course, there are literally hundreds of reviews and posts about Lights Up and its accompanying video, and maybe a lot of that attention is an offshoot to post-One Direction mania. I look at the surprise as pleasant simply because I loved Harry's debut solo album and look forward to seeing where he goes next, musically.
Well, a little over 24 hours and a few listens later, I'm still trying to decide. The song seems nothing like any of the tunes on the previous record, and is not one that'll stick in your head after just a listen or two. That being said, it's got an ethereal quality that's soothing and melodic and I'm sure it will grow on me fast. As for the video, well it's very sexually charged and very appropriate for its release on National Coming Out Day. Take a look and see what I mean. Here's Light's Up...
I just saw a post on Twitter that Harry Styles marvelous eponymous debut album was released just about two years ago. I was fortunate enough to see Harry when he stopped at Madison Square Garden last June and he played the entire, ten-song masterpiece. The record is still one of my go-to albums when I just feel like some good music. Here's one of the tunes that I never posted before. It's the head-bopping Carolina...
Last night I ventured into the city to catch Harry Styles at MSG, braving an 18,000 screaming tweens decibel level just to see this former One Direction member perform his self-titled debut solo album. I'm not sure how many of us in the audience came just for the appreciation of the music, but I did find myself enjoying both the music and the enthusiastic performer as well. Here's a clip of Harry performing one of my favorite tunes off the record, Ever Since New York...
Trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat
I'm going to Europe in just a couple of days and for those couple of days I'll be posting tunes from artists who hail from the countries I'll be visiting. First up is Great Britain and Harry Styles. How could I not? Lol. If you follow this blog regularly, you know how highly I think of his debut solo album. Anyway, here's Harry performing a sweet ballad in the studio, Two Ghosts...
Sometimes great music comes to you from the most unexpected places. When I think of One Direction, I am usually turned off. Boy band. Pop sugar. Blech! It's never been my thing. That being said, I have been keeping an ear on the solo efforts of the band's members and for the most part I've been impressed. Niall Haron's latest, Too Much to Ask, is a beautiful ballad, I love Liam Payne's work with Zedd on Get Low and his own Strip That Down, and yeah Luis Tomlinson's Back to You is pretty good, too! As for Zayn, for whatever reason I've just not found anything...yet...from his music that's called to me. And then there's Harry Styles.
Gaining access to a wide variety of new music at an affordable price is the biggest benefit I've gotten from joining Spotify as a premium member, and when Harry's Sign of the Times, from his debut eponymous solo album came out, my interest was piqued. Back in May, when the album was released, I checked it out...and absolutely loved it!
Harry Styles, the album, is a collection of ten tracks that are anything but pop sugar. In fact, if I were to classify the album by genre, I would say it's a lot like a great 70's rock record. The styles of the songs are varied, from upbeat to melancholy and everywhere in between. There's not a song on the record I dislike, and throughout the life of the album, I've been turning people on to it with good results.
With the U.S. leg of his tour in full swing, I thought that now might be a good time to review the record, something I'd been thinking about doing for awhile. He's coming to NYC in a little over a week, and if I didn't have another engagement that evening, I would surely brave all the screaming teen girls to go check him out. Ah well, maybe next time. Anyway, here's my take on all of the tracks on Harry Styles...
Meet Me in the Hallway
The serious tone of much of the record begins with this acoustic and melancholy piece that speaks of someone who's been jilted by someone, yet would jump back in a heartbeat. The melody is haunting and the vocals in the verses and the chorus evoke both the sadness and desperation of the abandoned lover. Check out the audio of this track here.
Sign of the Times
Styles' debut single is another melancholic masterpiece. This one reminds me of something the Beatles might have done in their later years, or perhaps early Elton John. Styles revealed that the song is about a young mother who is told she only has moments to live due to complications of childbirth. Woof! The multi-genre tune was a smash for the young singer and deservedly so. It's still one of my favorites on the album. Check it out...
Carolina
The record picks up in tempo on the third track, Carolina. This psychadelic jammer is straight out of the 70's and was supposedly written for a beautiful young lady with whom Harry once had an apparently memorable blind date with. Take a listen to Carolinahere.
Two Ghosts
We're not who we used to be
We're not who we used to be
We're just two ghosts standing in the place of you and me
Trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat
The fourth track is an easy breezy acoustic gem that's thoughtful and reflective. The album's second single has been compared to the likes of Pink Floyd, George Harrison, Bread, The Allman Brothers, and even the Rolling Stones. Perhaps it's just a wonderful mish-mosh of all of these influences, and it's s good. Check out a live, studio performance of the song...
Sweet Creature
Sweet Creature was a promotional single released just ahead of the album and this acoustic folk tune is simply sweet. Check out the song on John's Music World Song of the Day from May 30th.
Only Angel
The sixth track off the album is one of two up tempo rock tracks. The tune starts off with an, um, ethereal and 'angelic' intro before kicking into overdrive with nice guitar riffs and hard driving vocals. Great tune! Check out the audio of Only Angelhere.
Kiwi
The hardest rocking tune on the record has had people speculating that Styles has a secret child with a New Zealander. Hmmm!!! This one is fast-paced and hard driving and exemplifies the variety and range of genres found on this wonderful album. Check out a performance of the tune right here.
Ever Since New York
Oh, tell me something I don't already know
My favorite tune in the set is simply brilliant. The arrangements, the lyrics, the soft guitars, and the beautiful vocals. Love, love, love! I posted this video of him performing the song on the Today Show and it's definitely worth another look and listen...
Woman
The ninth track off the album is admittedly my least favorite, though it's still pretty darned good. It's a slow moving, dramatic rock ballad that's reminiscent, to me, of something Prince might have done. Check out the audio of Woman right here.
From the Dining Table
Harry closes the marvelous set much the way he opened it, with a melancholic ballad that Inquisitir's Kim McLendon compares to Nirvana's Kurt Cobain on his Unplugged performance of Where Did You Sleep Last Night? The comparison is not far off, surprisingly, and it just goes to show you the incredible range of Styles' style on this album. From the Dining Table is simply a beautiful and thought-provoking way to finish this stellar debut album that has made me a bona fide fan. Check it out right here.
Hello and welcome back to John's Music World New Music Fridays. It's been kind of a slow week in the new music world, well for me at least, but as always there are a few gems to be found. Read on...
Too Much To Ask - Niall Haron
Former One Direction member Niall Horan celebrated his 24th birthday this week with an announcement of his debut forthcoming solo album, Flicker, and a brand new song. Too Much To Ask is a beautifully performed ballad that, along with his previous song This Town, just might bring him in league with fellow One Directioner Harry Styles as one serious solo crooner. Take a listen to Too Much To Ask...
Best Friend - Sofi Tukker
The New York based duo Sofi Tukker has been growing on me more and more ever since I first came across their song Johny and it now looks like the rest of the world is catching on. Their latest, Best Friend, is even more infectious than the ultra-clubby F**k They, which is saying a lot. Check out the awesome Best Friend...
Find You - Nick Jonas
Former Jonas Brothers member gone solo superstar Nick Jonas had slowed down quite a bit after his breakthrough eponymous album, but now he's back with his second single of the year, and it's a sweet ballad that's clearly bests his prior single, Remember I Told You. This one's impossible to find anywhere on the Internet, so I highly suggest checking it out on Spotify.
How You Feeling - Superfruit
Openly gay duo YouTube stars and musicians have released their latest single this week and it is instantly likable for it's nice rhythms and catchy hook. Check out How You Feeling...
Flags - Shoffy, with Yuna
Anybody who follows this blog knows how much I love chill music. Well, this fresh track has all of the resident ingredients of a great chill tune...soft, easy-breezy vocals and a smooth smooth groove. Check out Flags...
So there you have it, my picks for the best new music this week. There's some exciting stuff coming up in the weeks ahead, so as always, stay tuned.
I've been finding myself listening to Harry Styles album often, and for good reason. The record is remarkable in a lot of ways, and each track tells a different story in varying genres and sounds that are equally good. It's actually the first album in a long time I am considering reviewing because it's simply stellar. Here's one of my favorite tracks from the set, a melancholy tune that's got a fantastic hook. Check out a performance of Ever Since New York from the Today Show...
Harry Styles debut solo album is awesome, full of mature, well-written and performed tunes that'll be on my playlist for a long time to come. Very impressed! Here's the first single from the eponymous album, a dramatic opus to well, a Sign of the Times...
First it was Harry Styles, now Liam Payne. Yet another former One Directioner has come out with some solo stuff, and Liam Payne seems closer to his roots on this effort. Kinda hot! Check out Strip That Down...
The boys of One Direction have been busy with solo projects lately, with Harry Styles joining in the fray with his Sign of the Times. I gave the album a shot a couple of weeks ago and I loved it...the entire thing (who'd of thought). Anyway, here's the tender and catchy Sweet Creature. Enjoy...
