Record Roulette: Harry’s House
This week’s very special Record Roulette is Harry’s House, by the man, the myth, the legend- Harry Styles. Released a mere three days ago (May 20, 2022), the album has unsurprisingly broken a few records, and from the looks of it, the rock-pop icon is back on the path to legend status within the music community. Since Harry’s House dropped late Thursday night, I have been thoroughly obsessed and making it everyone’s problem.
According to Apple Music, “In its first two hours, #HarrysHouse earned the most first-day streams for a pop album in 2022.” Surprised? Not in the slightest. Since One Direction’s 2016 split, Styles has been subtly yet desperately trying to rebrand himself in the public eye. Once seen as a disposable boyband veteran, Styles has amassed a worldwide fanbase comprised of former 1D fans and members of Gen Z who grew up listening to their parents’ old record collection. With his debut solo album, Harry Styles, he formed an approachable, aesthetically pleasing, and sexually ambiguous persona to shed his media-frenzied teen-heartthrob days. And it worked.
I distinctly remember the day Fine Line came out because it was the day I moved out of my college dorm. It was Friday the 13th (Dec 2019), and I had the album playing on repeat as I packed up my life and handed in the official “I’m leaving for good” documents. My aunt brought me to Senor Froggy for dinner (a staple Spokane Taco Bell rip-off), and then we ended up at an old school tattoo parlor for $13 flash tattoos. So, for better or worse, Fine Line came to me when I needed it most. The album is exceptionally emotional; a few heartsick ballads, some upbeat tunes for sunny days, but with an overall post-breakup theme.
With Harry’s House, we see Styles enjoying life again. He’s exploring synth-pop and living a little more carefree since Fine Line. Initially, it may come off as uninspired, Pitchfork’s Olivia Horn saying, “So what if Harry’s House isn’t especially bold; innovation is not a requirement of a solid pop album, and working too hard is out of fashion, anyway.” Despite this, dedicated Styles fans will notice this was a lateral move, giving the girls what they needed to hear after a gut-wrenching three years of sobbing to “Falling.”
So far, the fan favorites have been “Music For a Sushi Restaurant” and “Late Night Talking,” the first two tracks off the album. “Boyfriends” is Simon and Garfunkel-esque; my friend Jackson suggests notes of “I am a Rock,” while I would argue the guitar intro is almost identical to “April Come She Will.”
For lack of better words, my favorites are the sleeper hits- “Sattelite” and “Keep Driving.” Although each track seems to have a fan following on social media, these two are the ones I’ve noticed least talked about. They’re light on the uptake, with deeper meanings revealed in each play. Whether he’s “spinning out waiting for you” or talking about cocaine and side-boob, he conveys the story of a summer fling that grows more complicated with each passing day.
In true Harry Styles fashion, “Little Freak” and “Matilda” give us a momentary lapse of bubbly happiness and plunge us deep into an emotional breakdown. He coupled the tracks between “Daylight” and “Cinema” as if to say: “These two will break you, but I’ll do you the favor of putting them together so you can enjoy the rest of the album in peace.”
Save for the latter two tracks, Harry’s House can be enjoyed in almost any setting. On the subway, in the tub, with friends at your local dive bar or vegan brunch spot. It truly is a crowd-pleaser, and I have no doubts it will become the soundtrack of summer 2022. It’s beautiful, fun, and not so profound that it requires your full attention. As the self-proclaimed Lorax of Gen Z music junkies, I speak for all of us when I say, welcome back, Harry, we’ve missed you.
Listen to Harry’s House on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, or YouTube