Opinion

A (completely subjective) ranking of Harry Styles’ new album, based off one listen

Quite literally, first impressions of HS4

Daisy Jackson - 6th March 2026

Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally is finally with us – HS4 really did drop at midnight this time.

We all expected the fourth album from pop megastar Harry Styles to be a disco album (… because of the title, and the disco ball on the cover), and it is, in places. But there’s a lot more going on here too.

You can tell he’s spent a lot of time in Berlin, which means the disco here is pretty modern, but it’s all still quite tame. This is a pop album at its core and it needs to be one that will fill stadiums (that are already sold out).

And long-time Harry Styles fans will be pleased to find a few stripped-back ballads alongside the heavily-produced bigger tracks.

He kept us waiting for this one, but was it worth the wait?

Here’s my (completely subjective) ranking of every track on the album, based off precisely one listen. I might end up eating my words after a second go-around…

Every song on Harry Styles’ Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, ranked

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @harrystyles

12. Season 2 Weight Loss (Track 7)

I’m finding this one a bit annoying until it gets to about the 1.45 mark and builds. I’m all for experimenting with new sounds but it’s all a little disjointed and messy. ‘What drum effect would you like for this one, Harry’ – ‘All of them please’.

You know that feeling you get when you’re boiling the kettle and the extractor fan’s on and the microwave’s going and then your phone starts vibrating and it’s too much noise? Same energy.

11. Paint By Numbers (Track 11)

Bored. Have gone to make a cup of tea.

10. The Waiting Game (Track 6)

I know the girlies have been crying for a Harry ballad like Matilda, but you can’t really have one now because he’s been to Berghain and it’s changed him. He likes synths now.

This one is a close contender though. It’s nice enough but there’s not a whole lot of substance.

9. Are You Listening Yet? (Track 4)

Oh no, speak-singing, in his odd Cheshire-LA accent too (listen to the way he says ‘dancing’). Even with that crescendo with the choir near the end it’s a bit of a plodder. NEXT.

8. American Girls (Track 2)

Idk much about music terminology but whatever key he’s singing in here is scratching my brain just right. I feel like a dog when you scratch the part of their belly that makes their leg shake.

This is a really nice second track and I already know I’m going to regret ranking it so low after a few more listens. But that’s not the point of this ranking. Eighth place for you, American Girls.

7. Coming Up Roses (Track 8)

OH HANG ON, we have a string section! I’m awake again! YES HARRY STRIP IT BACK!! I take back what I said for The Waiting Game, the sad ballad girlies will lap this up. Can’t wait to hold my phone torch up in Co-op Live for this one.

6. Pop (Track 9)

The baseline on this has melted my spine (complimentary). I want to put my head inside the subwoofer. I much prefer the verses to the chorus but can imagine this one will go off in a live setting. To the dance floor!

5. Dance No More (Track 10)

Dance No More? Don’t tell me sh*t like that then hit me with a funky beat like this, Harry! I’m a sucker for a funky indie band (see: Parcels, Phoenix, Jungle, etc etc) so this was always going to work for me.

4. Aperture (Track 1)

Obviously this is not my first listen of this song. Now that we have the context of the rest of the album I can see why this was the lead single. I’ve liked it from the get-go and still do. But if you don’t like this song, you might not love what’s coming.

3. Ready, Steady, Go (Track 3)

More like OK Go, amirite?! Again, the harmonies in this are simply heavenly in the verses, I have been beamed right up. The megaphone vocals in the chorus might divide some people though. Funky little baseline may even tempt me off the couch even at this hour (it’s 7am).

2. Taste Back (Track 5)

This a bit more like old Harry. I can absolutely imagine myself walking to the tram in the morning with this in my ears feeling like the world’s not so shite after all. Might even frolic in a field to this one in summer. Very lovely.

1. Carla’s Song (Track 12)

Talk about saving the best til last! This is really reminiscent of another song, can’t put my finger on it, but I feel transported and immersed and all other good things music should make you feel. His vocals are stunninggggg in this.

Featured image: Johnny Dufort