For Harry Styles fans, the past couple months have been a waiting game. Sprinkling hints about his highly anticipated second album through one-word tweets and posters that seemed to disappear from the city’s streets as quickly as they turned up, Harry caught the attention of fans and allowed them to become a part of the new era piece by piece. Coming off of Harry Styles: Live on Tour in July 2018, he signed off on Instagram with a kiss as fans already began to reminisce about their own shows. That is, until this October when he came back with a still from the “Lights Up” music video which premiered just the day after. Then, it was a post announcing his double duty on Saturday Night Live due to air in three weeks. And in between, an album and tour announcement followed by the complete tracklist for Fine Line. Full of anticipation and with little time to process all this sudden news, fans were back to scrambling for tickets to the next tour as if their lives depended on it. But having something to look forward to is all the fun, and with Harry, you know it’s going to be extraordinary.
With the world ready for the next level of Harry, he said in interviews that this time around, he had no fear about getting it right or playing it safe. Feeling less guarded and able to take the time to immerse himself into the making of it, he summed up the difference between this album and first one by noting the changes in himself, saying that he focused on success as happiness which allowed him to be more joyful and honest.
And you can tell within the first few minutes of the album. Knowing that it would be the starting track, Harry shows his vulnerability in “Golden” with lyrics like “I know that you’re scared because I’m so open” nestled between playful background vocals. Carrying a juicy, summertime vibe, track 2 debuted on late night TV and its title previously appeared in a tweet stating: “Kiwi walked so Watermelon Sugar could run.”-which Harry later said he tweeted after a friend said it to him and he thought it was funny. And he follows up with another song to grove to in the upbeat and passionate “Adore You”. Making a cheeky joke about the single on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Harry winked at the camera when referring to the video for “Lights Up” which asks listeners “Do you know who you are?” and is sure to be the anthem of the tour as it’s message echoes through arenas. The album then turns sentimental as the opening acoustics of “Cherry” pull at the heartstrings. Being a breakup track, the song doesn’t shy away from telling you what it is, Harry even confessed that it’s his ex-girlfriend’s voice that was added on at the end. Leaving no time to recover, “Falling” expresses feelings of becoming someone he doesn’t want to be in a piano ballad through some of the best vocals we’ve ever gotten from Harry. On another side of the album, Harry admits to being the jealous type in “To Be So Lonely” where he fights with himself while simultaneously including artful details like the strike of a match in the recording. He continues to experiment with sound within the storytelling of “She” where the slow break down and high notes give way to the women of his daydreams. The retro feel of “Sunflower, Volume 6.” blossoms with words of feeling smitten, “Kiss in the kitchen like it’s a dance floor” and “I’ve been trying hard not to act a fool” make out the spirited track. As the album continues, it’s delightful to hear another joyful intro from “Canyon Moon” and the happiness carries all the way through, making it a feel-good song with something so perfectly sweet-natured Harry about it. Making it his personal motto from the start, “Treat People With Kindness” is something Harry fans are proud to wear on their sleeves and the song embodies the charm and genuine compassion that make his live shows so welcoming. Surely this one’s going to be a defining show tune during Love on Tour. And finally, knowing it would be the last track but not always the title, “Fine Line” layers Harry’s soft vocals for an emotional, surrounding affect worthy of being played at the end of an indie movie.
Knowing that it was important to make the record he wanted to for right now and not worry about the long run, Harry Styles’s Fine Line is undoubtedly going to be praised for years to come. In just a single listen you can’t help but be flooded with feelings of happiness for him and overwhelmed at the thought of hearing the album live. And as he continues to grow with the fans, there’s a reason why the dynamic works so well, “We’re so past that dumb outdated narrative of ‘Oh, these people are girls, so they don’t know what they’re talking about.’ They’re the ones who know what they’re talking about. They’re the people who listen obsessively…They’re running it” Harry told Rollingstone in August.
It shows when people are truly happy, and Harry Styles is radiating.