Harry Styles album review: 'A self-consciously serious and grown-up effort'

You’re familiar with Harry Styles The Popstar; welcome to Harry Styles The Artist.

For the 1D man’s much-anticipated album, released on Spotify early this morning, is a self-consciously serious and grown-up effort.

Sometimes it sounds great. Opener Meet Me in the Hallway — all strummed acoustic guitar and Styles’ echo-drenched vocals — is stylish and understated.

The folksy skip of Sweet Creature is as good as anything on Ed Sheeran’s Divide.

He can sing too. Only Angel, a party-time rocker, sees the 23-year-old explore the raspier reaches of his voice.

Sign of the Times, while labouring under its own sense of self-importance, is a showcase for Styles’ rich falsetto.

This album won’t change your life — but it might change your opinion of Styles.

(Columbia)