We need to talk about Harry Styles; both the man and the album.
There are two things you should know about me, the first being that I’m the biggest Harry Styles fangirl ever. You may not know this by looking at me, but if we get into conversation you’ll probably walk away with this knowledge. And once I start, I cannot stop. I’ll talk about the time I spent way too much money for VIP tickets to One Direction and he waved at me. I’ll talk about him as if he were an old friend, which in a way, he feels like one. The wonders of social media means I can know what Harry is doing all the time, where he is, what he’s up to, who he’s with. Both a blessing and a curse because the answer is that he’s never somewhere with me.
But whatever.
The second thing you need to know is that I love music. I’m obsessed with it. I’m almost a music snob, actually. I’m the one all my friends come to when they need new things to listen to. I have a very tight top five favorite bands and they are ranked in order with Death Cab for Cutie and The National being in the top two. Depressing guitar plucking with poetic lyrics perfect for lying in bed and watching the rain. The kind of musicians that make you feel introspective and lament love you never experienced.
I never expected Harry to do that to me.
Don’t get me wrong, as a fan I’ve always admired Harry for more than the pop music he was creating and the machine he was a part of in One Direction. I love One Direction because I love the boys themselves, each of them with their quirks and insights. The minute you find yourself watching in depth interviews is the moment you’ve lost the fangirl war. You’re in now. Forever.
And yes, I own Zayn’s album. I’ve bought both of Niall’s singles and Louis’ too. Liam’s coming out with an album and I’ll jam to it. But Harry is on a completely different level.
Harry’s album is good. Not because it’s Harry Styles, but because it is genuinely one of the most transformative records I’ve ever listened to in my lifetime. I’m talking about heart-wrenching, emotionally unstable, candles on in the dark vibes. It’s all throwback rock and his voice is soft and raw. It’s the closest I’ve ever felt to him, to really knowing who he is.
This album is art.
I want to ride in a vintage Camaro with the windows down through the desert at dusk to this album, my hand out the window with the wind weaving through the tips of my fingers. I want my bare feet on my dash and head lolled on my shoulder as I look at the passing mountains and wonder what lays beyond them.
This album hurts in the best way possible. It’s warmth and euphoria and sadness mixed with heartache and introspection. It’s the core of who Harry is, served on a platter for all of us to hear. It’s honest and it’s real and it’s almost impossible to describe in words.
It’s my favorite album right now. It’s my favorite album this year.
You just have to hear it to understand what I mean.