Harry Styles was the de-facto front man of One Direction, the boy band that launched him to stardom, and his self-titled solo debut proves that he is capable of standing alone. Inspired by glam-rock superstars like David Bowie and Queen, Harry Styles is vibrant, spunky and soulful. Styles pivots effortlessly from sweet balladry (“Meet Me in the Hallway”) to straightforward rock (“Kiwi”), succeeding at all of them. This album isn’t crowded with guest features, and it’s not on-trend; instead, it’s a swingingly retro sound that puts him in a lane all his own.
