My Old 1D Blog

Sacramento 7/9/2018

Photography by me, editing by @lithographarry​

Arriving just in time to mess-up everyone’s best-of-the-year music lists is Harry Styles’ sophomore album, “Fine Line.” The former One Direction member richly deserves a spot on yours.

The 12-track album continues Styles’ tour through his musical influences — his salute to rock royalty — and yet also shows signs that he’s coming up with his own sound. “Shine, step into the light,” he sings. It is advice he is also taking.

The men of One Direction are each taking their own direction, but Styles’ proves the most ambitious ( Take notes, Liam Payne ). He’s co-written every song and also adds guitar, dulcimer and supplies backing vocals.

Styles has reunited with producers Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon, who helped mould his sound on his first album. And the singles released so far — the psychedelic foot-stomper “Watermelon Sugar,” the soaring, soulful “Lights Up” and the blissful poppy “Adore You” — are all different and great.

The moody, string-based “Fine Line” ends the album, another song about the push-pull of former flames and broken things. But it concludes with hope: “We’ll be alright.” If he keeps making music like this, we all will be.