If I had to count the amount of times I’ve been scammed by a fandom to believe that an artist was dropping an album at midnight, well, I’d be embarrassed. 

Actually, I am embarrassed, anyway. Thinking that singer-songwriter Harry Styles would emerge after completing what I believe to be the greatest tour of all time to casually release a surprise album would be unrealistic. But on Jan. 15, he took to social media to show the album cover for “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.”

Despite my only driving ticket being for using my cell phone while driving, I am normally very disciplined about leaving it alone behind the wheel. Unfortunately, that was the exact moment Styles decided to announce the album. I did not see it until I checked my phone while pumping gas. 

Crying tears of joy while holding my breath to the smell of gasoline, I realized that Styles might singlehandedly make 2026 the greatest year yet. 

The anticipation surrounding Styles’ fourth album is fueled by patience. It has been nearly four years since his last album, “Harry’s House,” and more than two years since the end of his “Love on Tour” concert series. 

That tour itself seemed endless in the best possible way. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Styles released two albums while still technically touring the same era. Fans held onto tickets for years before actually being able to see him live. I was one of them, patiently waiting until the day arrived. 

And when it did, Styles proved what I, and many other fans already knew. He is an exceptional performer.

With many show dates for his upcoming tour already announced, I have no doubt it will be another celebration filled with “Satellite Stompers” and boa feathers. Unfortunately, I already lost the Ticketmaster war, so I will stay listening to “American Girls” from my car at full blast.

The track offers a reflective side of Styles. In it, he watches his friends settle down and marry American women while he remains single.

Despite exploring themes of loneliness, the song does not feel heavy. Its catchy chorus, “I’ve seen it in stages all over the world/ My friends are in love with American girls/ I’ve known you for ages/ American girls,” makes it impossible not to sing along.

The track also carries a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of his earlier days in the pop boy band, One Direction. With its bright pop sound and ugly, scream-singing chorus, the song would not feel out of place on the band’s fourth album, “Four.”

And as an American girl myself, it’s hard not to feel slightly seen.

Even through my bias as a Styles’ lover, there were some tracks that I did not connect with totally on first listen.

“Carla’s Song” is one I can easily see growing on me over time. It feels like the kind of track that reveals more with each listen, even if it did not immediately click for me. “Taste Back” is already starting to do just that. The more I replay it, the more I find myself appreciating its rhythm and can picture it being a favorite. 

“Dance No More,” meanwhile, carries a groovy beat that feels made for getting ready for a night out with friends. It is upbeat, easy to listen to and fits comfortably into the album’s overall disco-leaning essence. 

Other tracks, however, resonated with me immediately on a personal level.

“The Waiting Game” and “Season 2 Weight Loss” both struck a deeper chord. “The Waiting Game” reflects on the pause in situationships, the avoidance of responsibility in relationships and the romanticization of toxic cycles. 

This song made me reflect on my own suspension to change, waiting for others to clarify something for me or just waiting for something to move forward. The track highlights the emptiness of that waiting and the realization that change rarely comes without action.

While those songs felt deeply relatable, two tracks in particular on the album nearly had me tearing up.

“Coming Up Roses” is an emotional ballad written by Styles that reflects on cherishing the beauty of a relationship, even if it does not last forever. It feels vulnerable, as it guides an idea that meaningful relationships leave behind positive growth, even when they end. 

“Paint by Numbers” takes a more introspective approach. The track is a metaphor for living within the public image and having a predetermined status. Styles has been navigating this for his entire career, coming into the spotlight very young alongside his One Direction bandmates. 

In an interview with radio DJ Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Styles reflected on the loss of a close friend and the way that grief shaped his perspective. Many fans have speculated that this track is tied to the loss of One Direction bandmate Liam Payne who passed in October 2025. 

“It’s so difficult to lose a friend who is so like you in so many ways,” Styles said. “I saw someone with the kindest heart who just wanted to be great.” 

He continued by explaining that the best way to honor someone you have lost is by living your life to the fullest.

That sentiment feels embedded throughout the album. There is a need to escape and seek freedom woven through many of the songs, and I believe it reflects Styles’ literal need to find a sense of normalcy after concluding his extensive “Love on Tour.”

After the emotional weight of those tracks, the album finds its way back to playful energy.

“Pop” has already been compared by fans online to the cool older sister of “Cinema” from “Harry’s House,” and the comparison feels fitting. “Are You Listening Yet?” reminded me of something I would hear in the car with my dad, with its almost spoken, monotone rock style of singing.

Then there is “Ready, Steady, Go!,” a track that genuinely made me want to jump on a plane and see Styles perform live in London.

Released on Jan. 22, the album’s lead single, “Aperture,” set the tone early, hinting that something special was on the way. Thankfully, the rest of “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally” proves that expectation right.

The album moves easily between vulnerability and disco-infused fun, reminding listeners why Styles has remained one of pop music’s most compelling performers.

So while I may not be attending this tour thanks to Ticketmaster, at least I will have the soundtrack ready when I inevitably pretend I am front row in my car.