Fine Line is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Harry Styles, released on 13 December 2019 by Erskine and Columbia Records.
The album had the third-largest sales week of 2019 in the US and broke the record as the biggest debut from a British male artist since Nielsen SoundScan began, earning 478,000 album-equivalent units.
In an interview with Rolling Stone released on 26 August 2019, it was reported that the singer was putting the "final touches" on his album which Styles explained was "all about having sex and feeling sad."
[16][17] Styles collaborated with Spotify to organize a fan-exclusive event held at an undisclosed location in Los Angeles for a private listening party, where fans were taken to experience Eroda, an elaborate theme created for his single "Adore You".
[18] Styles promoted the album on 16 November episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live as both a host and a musical guest.
Styles allowed fans to pre-order his album and rewarded them with a code to have a chance to buy tickets to see him at his one-night-only show for only $25.
[22] The album cover features Styles wearing a "hot fuchsia" silk blouse, a scoop-neck vest, and white trousers.
It was originally released as a promotional single on 16 November 2019;[33] Styles performed "Watermelon Sugar" on Saturday Night Live.
[39][40] On 1 January 2021, Styles released a music video for "Treat People with Kindness" co-starring actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
"[56] Hannah Mylrea of NME found the album to be "a total joy", calling it "an elegant combination of the ex-boybander's influences, slick modern pop and his own roguish charm.
"[57] Rea McNamara of NOW Magazine praised Styles' decision to lean towards "ebullient, soulful pop" while naming "Sunflower, Vol.
[58] Writing for Rolling Stone, Nick Catucci deemed the album "excellent" and felt that "if there's a nontoxic masculinity, Harry Styles just might've found it.
"[59] David Smyth of The Evening Standard remarked that while Styles' music can not "live up to the sparkling imagery of his press profiles", his second album makes "a strong argument for being the most interesting boy band escapee yet.
"[49] Bryan Rolli of Consequence of Sound called Fine Line an "airy, melancholy album that diplomatically addresses heartache while declining to wallow in it", complimenting his more honest songwriting but lamenting the lack of energy in his vocal performance.
[64] The Daily Telegraph's Neil McCormick characterized the album as "charming but inconsequential",[54] while Mark Richardson of The Wall Street Journal described it as "earnest, forthright and delivered with polish", but "more imitative than original" and offering "no fresh perspective".
[65] In a mixed review, Jeremy D. Larson of Pitchfork described the "actual sound" of Fine Line as "incredible" as Styles' influences permeate the record, but considered his songwriting shallow and lacking in imagination.
"[66] Fine Line debuted atop the US Billboard 200 with 478,000 album-equivalent units (of which 393,000 are pure sales) in the week ending 19 December.
[72] According to Nielsen year-end report, Fine Line was the fifth-best selling album of the year in pure sales, with 458,000 copies—of which 354,000 were physical copies.