Harry Stiles' last record Harry's House was a blockbuster hit that won album of the year at the Grammys.

Now he's released its follow-up, a fairly radical departure, inspired by dance floors and post-punk music.

But it still swoons as any Harry Stiles record must.

I'm Stephen Thompson.

Today on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, we are talking about Harry Stiles' new album,

Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally.

Joining me today is NPR music editor, Hazel Sills. Welcome, Hazel.

Hey.

Great to have you. Also with us is Maria Sherman. She's a culture writer and music reporter at the Associated Press. Welcome back, Maria.

Thanks for having me.

It is a pleasure to have you both. So, Kiss All the Time, Disco occasionally, is Harry Stiles' fourth solo album since leaving

the boy band One Direction.

It showcases the singer's willingness to expand his sound, which in this case finds him

evoking dance and post-punk bands like Hot Chip and LCD sound system.

But he is Harry Stiles, so we still get plenty of

warm, approachable lyrics about love and community. Kiss all the time, Disco occasionally,

is Harry Stiles' first album in four years, and from its stylistic twists to the unconventional

tour that's about to unfold, it stands to be one of the

year's biggest stories in pop music. The album is out now. Maria Sherman, I'm going to start

with you. Give me your top of mind takeaway on, kiss all the time, period, disco, comma, occasionally, period.

I think my feelings on this album are as complicated as its title is what I'm recognizing

in this moment.

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