Opening track, ‘Golden’, could not be a more apt introduction for the former One Direction member, current Gucci poster boy’s second album, Fine Line. The sense of an effervescent golden-hour on a warm summer’s evening is infused throughout Harry Styles’ latest work.
The honey sweet tracks such as ‘Watermelon Sugar’ juxtapose the more melancholic sounds of song like ‘Falling’ allowing the album to carry a wealth of emotional depth whilst still being full of certified summery bops. Styles’ lyrics capture the ephemeral nature of human emotion and sit inside melodies that you can’t help but tap a foot or bob your head along to; in some cases, an almost disjointing but still pleasant experience. ‘To Be So Lonely’ is a perfect example of one of these songs in that the lyrics are that of exactly the kind of song you would cry along to after a relationship ends but the use of the guitalele creates an almost cheery atmosphere throughout parts of the song and a chorus that is hard to not dance along to.
Titular and closing track, ‘Fine Line’, is by far the most cinematic song on the album. At 6:19 it is the longest track but with the slow building intro and angelic vocals, it would not seem out of place as a short indie film, much like 'Adore You', exploring the breakdown of the relationship Styles is constantly referring to. The song wraps you up and feels reminiscent of waves crashing over you in the sea, reaching a joyous crescendo wrapped up neatly with by the heavenly choir heard in the intro.
Fine Line exhibits a growth in Harry Styles as a solo artist that is far removed than anything that ever could have been achieved with One Direction. Speaking to Apple Music, Styles said that listening back to his eponymous first album, he could hear every part where he played it safe for fear of getting it wrong but that Fine Line was all about joy for him, an opportunity to be open and honest in his music which really comes through. The emotional intelligence of the album paired with the catchy melodies makes Fine Line a standout pop album.
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