The cover of Styles’ third album depicts him standing in a reflective pose inside of an upside down yet otherwise mundane setting.
At midnight on May 20, 2022, the British superstar Harry Styles released his long anticipated third album: Harry’s House. Millions of fans stayed up late to hear the album after the massive success of Styles’ teaser track, “As It Was”. In case you haven’t found the time to listen to the album, or are perhaps wondering if it’s worth the listen in the first place, here is a review and description of the star’s junior record.
Opening with the soft electro-pop sound of “Music for a Sushi Restaurant”, Styles makes his return since his monumental sophomore album, “Fine Line”. While certainly different from anything Styles previously released, the opening track, with its catchy lyrics and upbeat rhythm, finds its way ingrained into the audience's minds. Other highlights of the album include two unique tracks that immediately stand out: “Daylight” and “Matilda”.
“Daylight”, similar to “Music for a Sushi Restaurant”, clearly has electronic pop influences. It has quickly become a fan favorite following the album’s release. With arguably one of the most catchy choruses of the album, the track tells a lighthearted and optimistic story of love and joy. In an interview with acclaimed DJ Zane Lowe, Styles details his experience making the album. He describes feeling more comfortable with experimenting in his genre as his place as an artist has become more solidified. The safety Styles feels clearly paid off when it came to the sound of the album and is exemplified on tracks like this as they are risky and unique in every sense of the word.
To contrast with the optimistic “Daylight'', “Matilda” is a serene and melodic track in which Styles serenades a character that has made their way out of an abusive situation. According to Genius, “In the song, Harry somberly sings to somebody whose family did not treat her well. He takes inspiration from the Roald Dahl book Matilda and/or its movie adaptation of the same name, about a girl with telekinesis who was mistreated by her principal and parents”. The lyrics of the song have resonated with many of Styles’ devoted fans, and the track itself has already been critically acclaimed by Rolling Stone and an array of other musical magazines. Overall, this track has found its way into the hearts of listeners and in my opinion, is one of the best on the album.
The title itself is symbolic of Harry’s place in his career, and the theme of the album can be applied to the lives of many. “Harry’s House” tells the story of finding home no matter where you are. Tracks such as “Matilda” and “Late Night Talking” detail finding comfort and solace in people we choose rather than the societal view of what family should be. While certain electronic tracks may take some getting used to, Styles’ confidence and expertise on this album cannot be denied, and I highly encourage going into this album with an open mind.
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