1. Music For a Sushi Restaurant
Me and Iestyn keep laughing about our initial reaction to this song. It was 6/7 in the morning and we'd barely woken up before putting on headphones and having this blasted to us, so we didn't really know what was going on and couldn't appreciate the vibes hahaha. It was A LOT. But when I played it through the speakers later on I was dancing around like nobody's business. It's in my (first impressions) top 5 because it's so fun and almost Sunflower Vol.6 vibes, which is one of my favourite Harry songs ever. My favourite part is the pre chorus (?) 'you know I love you babe, in every kind of way' where he's sassy shout singing. I've wanted him to add elements like this to his songs ever since his iconic cover of Lizzo's 'Juice' in the Live Lounge and now we have it :') Such a good album opener because it puts you in the best mood for entering Harry's House!
Rating: 8.5/10
Favourite Lyric: Green eyes, fried rice, I could cook an egg on you
2. Late Night Talking
3. Grapejuice
Ahhhh Grapejuice. First things first- the guitars at the end are dreamy, in fact the whole production is perfection!!! The effect on the verses is almost 'Gorillaz' like, albeit a little cheerier. I really like the feel of it, especially when the chorus hits and feels so airy and relaxed, which suits the scene Harry is setting in the lyrics themselves. I love when a song sounds just like the feeling it's describing. I already know this is going to fit well on so many of my playlists: summer tunes, my chill playlist & our long journeys soundtrack. I'd be very surprised if I tire of this, I seem to enjoy it more and more each listen. One part that I enjoy lyrically is the nod to his last album and the love interest attached to it. When reassuring the subject of this song to not overthink the past, he sings 'I'm so over whites and pinks'- the two main colours used in the fine line era and what he wears on the album cover. For those who don't know, almost all of that album was love and breakup songs to one specific ex, whose voice is even featured at the end of Cherry. And of course it's also referencing wines. His new love is deeper. His new loves an old red. Gone are the days of his old white and pink wine loves. Such a simple line, yet bursting with information and interpretations, I always enjoy lyrics with multiple meanings and this is just further proof that Harry's getting better and better with every album lyrically. I love subtle references to previous eras like this in songs, also giving us an insight into how he views those things now.
Rating: 9/10
Favourite Lyric: There's just no getting through the grape juice blues
4. As It Was
Obviously we've had this track since April so I've had much longer with it, but now we have the full picture I can see why this was the lead single. It sure sticks in your head. It's not my favourite on the album (whether that's just my taste, or simply because all the other tracks are newer and therefore shinier and more exciting) but it's a good time. We love an iconic bridge that we can't help but sing along to.
Rating: 7.5/10
Favourite Lyric: Answer the phone, 'Harry you're no good alone'
5. Daylight
One of my new favourite Harry songs. I love everything about this song. The BUILD to the big chorus gives me LIFE. I love how big the production gets, yet his voice still remains gentle and so delicate. The vocal melodies are all so good throughout, and so rhythmic in the verses specifically. It's a bold claim, but I think the pre chorus might be my favourite moment from the whole album. and the way he ends with it being repeated. because he just knows it's so good we need to hear it once more.
Rating: 10/10
Favourite Lyric: If I was a blue bird, I would fly to you. You'd be the spoon, dip you in honey so I could be sticking to you
6. Little Freak
I think Little Freak is one of the most beautiful points on the album, which is funny because the name suggests otherwise. I like that Harry did that. Track six really demands your attention in such a soft way. When this song comes on, I stop, listen and really take notice of the intricacies of it. Harry sings about the subject's delicate point of view in the chorus of the most delicate song on the album. The way he describes reflecting on a relationship without wanting anything or feeling any ownership over her is so refreshing and well put. A perfect chorus. One of my favourite tracks! Almost gives me Fools Gold vibes, which would make sense as it was a Harry written 1D song & an iconic one at that x
Rating: 9.5/10
Favourite Lyric: the whole chorus in its entirety
7. Matilda
I don't really have the right words for this song just yet. This track hit hard as an important one, and if you're in my life closely, I'm sure you'll know why. To have someone as influential and important as Harry Styles singing on topics of parental/family neglect and abuse will mean so much for so many, and he really gets it right. He doesn't overstep, he doesn't make it about him, he just sings the words so many people need to hear in a society where 'family is everything' is pushed onto all of us. It's one of his best songs, and if you're someone who connected to this song based on your experiences, I'm so happy you have this support system of a song. I hope you're doing okay.
Rating: 1000000/10
Favourite Lyric: You can start a family who will always show you love
8. Cinema
I know this bop of a song is a lot of people's favourite, so I'm a little afraid to admit it's not in the top half of my ranking on the album. However, I do not dislike this track at all- I love love love it, I'm just so obsessed with other songs that it's been pushed down. I really love the vibes of this one. It's such a chill song, but still packed with atmosphere. It's very simple yet so relatable in the sense of thinking a potential love interest is just ~cool~ and wondering if they think the same of you. The production matches the themes perfectly as well which makes for a satisfying, perfectly put track. I do wonder if this will be one I'm not paying much attention to right now, but will grow on me even more once I'm more familiar with the album. I guess time will tell!
Rating: 7/10
Favourite Lyric: I just think you're cool, I dig your cinema
9. Daydreaming
For me, this is the most forgettable on the album. There's nothing to actively dislike about it, but I don't find it very interesting lyrically or instrumentally. I don't skip it when listening to the album, but I don't ever put on this track specifically, you know? The fact this is my least favourite song on the album speaks volumes on how good this album is, because it's far from a bad track. At worst, just not a special one.
Rating: 6/10
Favourite Lyric: Give me all of your love, give me something to dream about (even the best lyric has nothing on 'Get me with those green eyes, baby, as the lights go down, give me something that'll haunt me when you're not around', which is essentially the entire message of Daydreaming, summed up better in one lyric from a self written Taylor song she wrote when she was 16.)
10. Keep Driving
This was my favourite on first listen. I love the concept of the song, hearing concerning noises in the engine of a car but deciding to just keep driving and hoping it will be okay being a metaphor for dealing, or rather not dealing, with problems in a relationship. Also, it's got a very Taylor Swift-esque bridge. Harry is almost rambling/ranting, listing issues, just to pull it back to 'shall we just keep driving?'. Very reminiscent to Death By A Thousand Cuts, where Taylor lists the ways said realtionship has drained her, just to end it with 'but I'll be alright, it's just a thousand cuts'. Like Taylor and her delicate sarcasm, Harry's use of this climax is also very clever and fitting for the song. He lets it all out in the bridge just to once again brush it under the rug and not deal with it. Really reinforcing the meaning of ignoring the problems. This is a moment on the album where Harry's song writing particularly shines to me. It's a perfect bridge, and to compare it to once of my favourite Taylor bridges of all time is the highest of honours. I cannot wait to learn all the words so I can sing along to this bridge at the top of my lungs. I love this song.
Rating: 9/10
Favourite Lyric: Maple syrup, coffee, pancakes for two
hash brown, egg yolk, I will always love you
11. Satellite
12. Boyfriends
I'm glad this song got it's own moment to shine at Coachella (being performed weeks before the album tracklist even came out) as, for me, it almost gets lost in the album. At least in these first few listens. It's just not been distinctive enough for me so far, but on it's own and especially when being performed live, it's beautiful, self reflective and honest with a unique message behind it. To have a man singing openly about how poorly men can treat women in relationships is a very iconic Harry move. To admit it's inspired by not only watching how people have treated his loved ones, but also how he has treated women in his past is so raw and self aware. I love that for him and for us! Boyfriends, if you recognise any of yourself in this song, do better! it's never too late to unlearn those bad habits. like king Harry x
Rating: 6.5/10
Favourite Lyric: You love a fool who knows just how to get under your skin
13. Love Of My Life
I liked this a lot on first listen, probably because by the end of the album I had woken up a bit more, and I still like it now but Harry's Zane Lowe interview description of this song did throw me a little bit. I think I'm going to ignore that explanation because it doesn't really fit in my head hahaha, I prefer it as a vulnerable love song to someone he's lost but will always love. That's how it portrays itself to me at least. It also links back in with other songs on the album, following the theme of things just not being the same as before. Building this collection of songs together paints a beautiful picture, which helps this make sense for me as the last track. When you take away that perspective, I'm less sure why it's the album closer. So Harry, with the upmost respect, I'm ignoring you on this one. It is my least favourite album closer, but that is only because Fine Line and From The Dining Table are two of my favourite Harry songs ever! Ooooh, and I love the bridge.
Rating: 7/10
Favourite Lyric: We don't really like what's on the news, but it's on all the time
Wow. What an experience this album is. It's got the most empathetic, understanding and emotionally intelligent song Harry's ever written (Matilda), it's got the best wine song anyone's ever written (grapejuice), It's got Harry Styles saying fuck you to terrible partners (boyfriends) and he even talks about wet dreams in the most beautiful song ever and gets away with it (little freak)!!!!! Overall, I can confidently say this album is a new fave. Is it in my top 5 albums of all time? I can't say that yet, I need to live with it a little longer, but it is undoubtedly in my top 10. I can't quite believe I don't know every single lyric to every single song yet. I can't believe, whilst writing this, Harry's House has been out less than a week. The only thing Fine Line has over it, the only thing keeping this album from being 10/10, is that I am obsessed with every single song on FL, whereas there are two I don't connect with here in Harry's House. That may well change, though. I can't wait to see. Check out my quick fire, first impression opinions below. If you'd like me to revisit the album in 6 months/a year and update you all- let me know!
Best Song: Daylight
Worst Song: Daydreaming
Better than Harry Styles (the album)? Yes
Better than Fine Line? Not for me personally, not yet anyway. these things take time!!
Song that made me cry: Matilda sure made my eyes water
Song that made me dance: Music for a sushi restaurant
Song that I'm most likely to skip: Daydreaming or Boyfriends, though they aren't total skips
Most relatable: Matilda, but from Harry's POV rather than Matilda's.
Album Rating: 9.5/10
Great analysis of the album! Would love to hear your opinions again in 6 months. For me it’s a 9/10 for me:)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I always find it so interesting to revisit albums. Solid rating!
ReplyDelete