Rolling Stone - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[O]n his superb solo debut, the One Direction heartthrob claims his turf as a true rock & roll prince, a sunshine superman, a cosmic dancer in touch with his introspective acoustic side as well as his glam flash." Spin - "'Sign of the Times' redeems itself on sheer ambition, Styles delivering every line as if he's making a crucifixion pose on a cliff projected onto a large arena that is smoldering, and Bhasker producing it to sound five times bigger still." Paste (magazine) - "Besides the obviously mature lyrics from Styles, the album is a truly musical effort, full of analog instruments, not just artificial beats." Clash (Magazine) - "[I]t swiftly becomes palpable that Styles has a genuine knack for synthesising distinct classic influences from the past fifty years."