It was evident from the first strains of "Aperture" thatHarry Styles'new album would not be the same as it was.
Where his Grammy-winning "Harry's House" danced with taut melodies, inescapable hooks and blasts of brass (we still love you,"Music for a Sushi Restaurant"), Styles' fourth solo album, "Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally," is as quirky and brow-furrowing as its title.
That isn't a criticism, just the acknowledgement that Styles'first release in four years, out March 6, takes a hard turn into electronic music meshed with Dark Wave '80s influences.
Breezy pop, this is not. But itisa showcase for an artist unafraid to stretch and plunge into the deep end.
Thethumping "Aperture"arrived as a slow-burn song that already sounded like a remix, yet its unconventionality didn't prevent it from racing to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in February (along with the Global 200, Streaming Songs and Digital Song Sales chart).
Styles, 32, crafted the album's dozen tracks with trusted producerKid Harpoon, the pair gleefully experimenting with roiling synths and taking cues from artists such as British DJ/producerJamie xx(who will join Styles at hisMadison Square Garden showsthis summer).
The titles to many songs – "Season 2 Weight Loss," "Ready, Steady, Go!" and "Taste Back" among them – aren't better clarified after listening to lyrics that require an archeologist to expose. WhenStyles tosses out lineslike "But you call Leon/you call it only in my head" on the Eurotrash disco banger "Ready, Steady, Go!" and leads the call and response coda "Gotta get your feet wet/Respect!/Respect your mother!" on the funky "Dance No More," the message seems to be, don't worry about understanding it, just feel it.
That said, fans will likely scour the internet for clues about the subject of album closer "Carla's Song," which is driven by bright synths and throbbing bass that escalates into rattlesnake shakes as Styles intones "It's all waiting there for you." Likewise the slow grooving, piano pulsing "American Girls," which finds Styles skipping through a singsong chorus of "I've known you for ages/it's all that I've heard/my friends are in love with American Girls."
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Throughout the album, Styles admirably dedicates himself to progressing, even if it doesn't mean gift wrapped radio fodder. But no doubt these EDM-imbued tracks will land with a wallopwhen performed live.
Here are some of the standout tracks on "KATTDO."
More:Harry Styles is returning to 'SNL' – Get the details
'Are You Listening Yet?'
Styles speak-sings over cascading keyboards in his most verbose song on the album, which is also his most musically stimulating. A clattering chorus of "Now you're all out of choices/are you listening yet?" eventually takes flight. But then electric guitar swoops in, the song detours into a drum-heavy break and somehow it all sounds cohesive.
'Taste Back'
It's a very '80s moment, with the industrial synth-pop of Depeche Mode or Soft Cell clear influences as Styles sings over a sweet, mellifluous chorus, "Must be lonely in Paris if you talk like that … Did you get your taste back?/Or do you just need a little love?" Styles works out his questioning in real time, deciding, that yes, "you just need a little love."
The veteran British glam rockers will be asking Las Vegas, "Do you wanna get rocked?" at their new dozen-concert residency at Caesars Palace. Singer Joe Elliott told USA TODAY the band wants to keep some "mystique" about show plans but, "Vegas will have a new concept."Dates: Feb. 3 - Feb. 28 (Las Vegas). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The Americana sweetheart is supporting her eighth studio album – and first solo project in four years – "Returning to Myself," released in October. She'll be joined by The Head and the Heart.Dates: Feb. 10 (Philadelphia) – March 6 (San Francisco). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The hip-hop maven embarks on her Little Miss Drama Tour – its name drawn from her second studio album that released in September – for more than 30 dates. It's her first tour in six years and her first arena outing.Dates: Feb. 11 (Palm Desert, California) – April 18 (Atlanta). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The Mayhem Ball was unequivocally the most spectacular road show of 2025. The indefatigable Gaga is back for a second North American leg that will hit some new cities (Atlanta, Boston, Washington DC) and return her captivating pop-opera to others (Los Angeles, New York) because of insatiable demand.Dates: Feb. 14 (Glendale, Arizona) – April 13 (New York). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Following the major success of his fourth studio album, "Wishbone," which bore the dreamy "This Song" and "Vodka Cranberry," the sensitive singer-songwriter will circle North American arenas with Esha Tewari before heading to Europe and Australia.Dates: Feb. 19 (Minneapolis) – March 20 (Los Angeles). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Following the recent release of his sixth album, "With Heaven on Top," the alt-country singer-songwriter will launch another slate of stadium shows to promote the 25-song effort. He's also tapped a heady supporting cast: Kings of Leon and Ben Howard, Alabama Shakes and Caamp.Dates: March 7 (St. Louis) - Oct. 10 (Auburn, Alabama). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Country megastar Combs has produced a stadium-sized career, and he'll fill those venues on his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour, which kicks off the day after his new album, "The Way I Am," arrives. Combs tapped guest performers – Dierks Bentley, The Script, Thomas Rhett, Thelma & James, among others – for various dates.Dates: March 21 (Las Vegas) – June 6 (Toronto). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The forthright British songbird hasn't toured North America since 2018, and is only doing nine concerts before heading back to the U.K. this summer. But she'll make them memorable. Her Lily Allen Performs West End Girl will find her performing her intense new album, "West End Girl," start to finish.Dates: April 3 (Chicago) – April 28 (San Francisco). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Florence Welch – an ever-captivating and a dazzling stage presence – will lead her band through a romp inspired by her sixth album, "Everybody Scream," released on Halloween. She'll be joined by Rachel Chinouriri, Sofia Isella and other artists on varying dates.Dates: April 8 (Minneapolis) – May 20 (Los Angeles). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
It's been four years since Lovato's last major outing and she's primed to bring her nearly two decades (!) of hits to 23 cities. Touring behind last year's "It's Not That Deep," which marked her return to pop, Lovato will welcome ADÉLA as her special guest.Dates: April 8 (Charlotte) – May 25 (Houston). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
While he hasn't headlined a tour since 2017, the song-and-dance man has hardly been idle. He's helmed a popular Vegas residency and club opening as well as moonlighting with Silk Sonic and appearing on hits with Lady Gaga and Rosé. His grand return for The Romantic Tour – his fourth album, "The Romantic," – will play nearly 70 stadium shows across North America and Europe and was met with instant sellouts. Dates: April 10 (Las Vegas) – Oct. 17 (Vancouver). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Cue the eardrum-shattering screams because the K-pop conquerors are back. A 70-plus date world tour featuring an in-the-round stage should sate the BTS Army, especially since it's the group's first headline tour since 2022. A new record, "Arirang," is also expected this year.Dates: April 25 (Tampa) - Sept. 6 (Los Angeles). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The effervescent ska-punk of the "Tragic Kingdom" quartet will meld with the remarkable technology at Sphere Las Vegas for what is sure to be a colorful show. Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young have 18 performances set at the venue to host their cache of '90s and '00s smashes. Dates: May 6 - June 13 (Las Vegas). More here. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The voice behind the ubiquitous "Ordinary" released his full-length debut album, "You'll Be Alright, Kid," in July (with Jelly Roll and Rosé popping on a couple of songs). He'll parlay his burgeoning success on his Little Orphan Alex Live tour with a run of 28 North American amphitheaters and arenas.Dates: May 25 (Nashville) - July 28 (Cheyenne, Wyoming). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The Australian pop-rockers show their sense of humor on new album "Everyone's a Star!" with the single "Boyband." They'll take their polished riffs to Europe in the early part of the year before hitting more than three dozen arenas and amphitheaters in North America.Dates: May 29 (Uncasville, Connecticut) - Aug. 28 (Mountain View, California). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The global superstar broke through in a major way with "LUX," her fourth full-length album released in November featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, Björk, Carminho and Estrella Morente, among others. Her LUX Tour 2026 will play 42 arena shows in 17 countries. Dates: June 4 (Miami) - July 3 (San Diego). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
It's a long way from "Wicked" as Grande embarks on her first tour in six years. The album she's ostensibly supporting, "Eternal Sunshine," arrived in March 2024, but Grande spent the last couple of years exploring her acting interests and hinted that she will return to that path following this excursion.Dates: June 6 (Oakland, California) – Aug. 6 (Chicago). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Even Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were surprised at the demand that met the first seven dates they announced on their Fifty Something tour, their first since 2015. Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Neil Peart died in 2020, but the Canadian rockers will be joined by Anika Nilles behind the kit.Dates: June 7 (Los Angeles) – Dec. 17 (Vancouver). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Following a spate of shows in Australia and South America, the affable Sheeran will land in North America for a stadium run. Sheeran is rocking a pink-hued motif for the tour in support of his eighth studio album, "Play," which spawned the hits "Azizam," "Sapphire" and "Camera."Dates: June 13 (Glendale, Arizona) – Nov. 7 (Tampa). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Jon Bon Jovi was extremely candid in the band's fulfilling Hulu documentary, "Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story," about the devastating vocal cord issues that robbed him of his singing voice. But following surgery and intensive rehab, one of rock's greatest frontmen and the rest of his Jersey boys are ready to rock again with a nine-show residency at Madison Square Garden before heading to Ireland and the U.K. for another handful of shows.Dates: July 7-26 (New York). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
It's been quite the whirlwind year for the young London native, whose second album, "The Art of Loving," earned her a best new artist Grammy nomination and commandeered radio with the soulful pop of "Man I Need" and "Nice to Each Other." Her The Art of Loving Live tour is her most ambitious as she plays all arenas for the first time.Dates: July 10 (San Francisco) – Aug. 29 (Austin, Texas). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Two decades after steamrolling through venues with their Carnival of Sins tour, Motley Crue is resurrecting the explosive production for its 20th anniversary as well as the 45th anniversary of the band. The Return of the Carnival of Sins – featuring updated staging and set lists – will hit 33 cities with Tesla and Extreme in tow.Dates: July 17 (Burgettstown, Pennsylvania) – Sept. 26 (Ridgefield, Washington). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The band – Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Slash, Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Isaac Carpenter and Melissa Reese – have returned to their road warrior ways following a 2025 world tour and a 2026 that finds them roaring through South America and Europe before journeying to North America. Among GNR's dates is a Sept. 5 return to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, their first time playing the stadium in more than 30 years. Dates: July 24 (Raleigh, North Carolina) – Aug. 22 (Las Vegas). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Their last stadium tour, the 2023-24 Everything or Nothing at All run, sold out stadiums worldwide. The Foos – Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, Rami Jaffee and Ilan Rubin – will go another round in 12 (for now, they say) North American cities this summer. Queens of the Stone Age will open all dates except Sept. 12 in Fargo, North Dakota.Dates: Aug. 4 (Toronto) – Sept. 26 (Las Vegas). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The celebration continues for the emo-punk-rockers, who last year kickstarted an anniversary tour to revisit their standout 2006 rock opera, "The Black Parade." Skits and costumes are prevalent as the band – Gerard Way, Ray Toro, Mikey Way and Frank Iero – tears through their landmark album in full before a second set of ragers.Dates: Aug. 9 (New York) – Oct. 31 (Hollywood, California). More here." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Who is on tour in 2026? Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, BTS, Rush and more
The veteran British glam rockers will be asking Las Vegas, "Do you wanna get rocked?" at their new dozen-concert residency at Caesars Palace. Singer Joe Elliotttold USA TODAYthe band wants to keep some "mystique" about show plans but, "Vegas will have a new concept."Dates:Feb. 3 - Feb. 28 (Las Vegas).More here.
'Coming Up Roses'
The string-infused ballad is one of Styles' most openhearted songs, and also contains the magical lyric, "Just for tonight, let's go hangover chasing." The swoony strings coat the song with a lush, old-fashioned feel. But what makes the eighth track on "KATTO" so intriguing is that its softness comes out of left field, like "Yesterday" popping up between "I've Just Seen a Face" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" on the Beatles' "Help!" album.
'Pop'
If there is anything resembling the, well, pop of Styles' past, this is it. Except this time he threads some repetitious techno into the mix. You canhear Styles unravelingas the song unfurls, but there is no denying the grip of the chorus, "Am I in over my head?/This could go anywhere/I do it and do it again/it's meant to be pop," the emphasis placed on the title word. "It's nice to mix two flavors together," Styles sings, once again offering mystifying lyrics that may make sense only to him. And once again reminding that it's OK to feel more than think.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Harry Styles new album makes you stop overthinking and just feel