Track by Track: The 1975’s New Album
This week, we’re going to have a long, serious talk about The 1975‘s new album.
On June 1st, 2015, the band members deleted all their social media. This included the band’s Twitter account, their personal Twitter accounts, the band’s Instagram account, their personal Instagram accounts, and their Facebook page. The internet almost broke because of this. Little did the fans know, that this was all for a really good cause.
24 hours after everything was deleted, the band returned… and they changed. They went from “Black and White 1975” to a “Colorful 1975,” as I like to call it.
The band’s first two albums consisted of album art that had black, white, and grey tones.
On June 2nd, 2015, all of their social media was pink. I was slightly opposed to this new change since pink is my least favorite color, but as time went on, I realized that this new look really suited them. Along with the color scheme change, the band’s sound also changed.
On February 26th, 2016, the band released their sophomore album, I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it. “It sounds a lot more pop than it did indie like their old music did,” says 11th grader, Elizabeth C.
// P R E O R D E R B O X S E T // L O V E THE1975.COM A photo posted by The1975 (@the1975) on
Let’s get the party started, and narrow this album down track by track.
“The 1975”
This first song is only an intro to the album. It’s only a minute-and-a-half and there aren’t many words, but the beat is catchy and relaxing. Okay, maybe it doesn’t relax you, but it sure is interesting. And let me warn you now, IT DOES NOT PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT COMES NEXT. At the end, the chorus is faint and Matty Healy’s voice blares through your speakers. If you close your eyes, you can basically feel Matty right next to you.
“Love Me”
This was the first song the band released as a single. In all honesty, as mainstream as this may be, this song is one of my favorites (but, shhh! Don’t tell any of my friends). And just like me, 11th grader, Elizabeth C. also says “Love Me” is her favorite song. I love the way the song starts with a little guitar riff. Everytime I hear that guitar, I get up and start dancing, I’m not ashamed to admit it. Aside from the guitar riff, Matty Healy’s voice sounds amazing. There’s also a great guitar solo in the middle of the song. So, basically, this song has some amazing guitar parts that can really make you get up and dance. This song, in general, really makes you just want to get up and dance.
“UGH!”
Let me tell you one thing about this song: this song will cause major feels.For all the band’s fans, they all know the real meaning behind this song, but for those who don’t, I’ll help you out. This song is about the frontman’s battle with addiction. And even though the beat of the song sounds so happy and peppy, the lyrics say something else.
I know your lungs need filling
Since your gums have lost their feeling
But don’t say that you’re giving it up again
As a fan, I’m proud of how far he has come. As a regular listener I think these lyrics are very inspirational… I love Matty Healy.
This is the first song off this new album that has a curse word, so unfortunately I can’t link it below, but when you have a chance, GO LISTEN TO IT. You honestly won’t regret it.
“A Change of Heart”
This song really helps guitarist, George Daniels, show off his 808 skills. This song, if you have been a fan since the beginning brings back a lot of memories.
The lines, You’ve got a face straight out of a magazine, were also used in the band’s debut album in a song called “Robbers.”
And as morbid as this may seem, this song really depicts what happens between a lot of couples. One day to another, one of the people in this relationship can go from loving to realizing they don’t have anymore feelings for their significant other. But you would never know that the song is about something so upsetting from the beat.
“She’s American”
The funky bass and sneaky saxophone in this song give me all the feels you could possibly imagine. But I do have to point something out, that I think could make some people slightly angry: This is one of my least favorite songs off the album. Why? I find some of these lyrics a little offensive.
If she likes it ’cause we just don’t eat and we’re socially relevant, she’s American.
The band, as most of you probably know, are British. But, why do they have to explicitly point something like that out in a song? What does being American have anything to do with why a person likes or dislikes something/someone?
“If I Believe You”
As gospel as this song may sound, don’t be fooled, this song has no relation to God. This song is actually about Matty’s atheism.
And if I believe you, would that make it stop?
If I told you I need you, is that what you want?
This song speaks to me in a way that none of the other songs have spoken to me. As much as I wish I could believe in a higher power, I can’t, and I can relate to this song a lot. It may not be the same with you, the reader/listener, but I would still give this song a chance if I were you.
Along with some more brass instruments in the background, there’s another gospel choir doing the backing vocals for this song.
“Please Be Naked”
This is the first song on the album that is purely instrumental. The rhythm is sombre as opposed to “sexy” as the song title makes it seem like it will be. The piano notes that fade in and out of the song make the tone seem a little more sad than the other upbeat sounds in the previous songs.
“Lostmyhead”
I have only one thing to say about this song: There are four lyrics in total in this song and it’s more powerful than any other song on this album.
“The Ballad of Me and My Brain”
A subtle introduction for this song was made in “Lostmyhead” and I couldn’t be happier about the deeper meaning of this song.
It’s likely in a Sainsbury’s
Flirting with the girls and waiting for me
I jumped on a bus, declared my name
And asked if anybody had seen my brain
Matty makes a subtle reference to how fame has changed the way he thinks about the world and, unfortunately, about himself. In other words, this song is about the “side-effects” of fame.
“Somebody Else”
Matty’s raspy voice in this song give me life, as they say on Tumblr. There’s nothing wrong with this song, actually. Hands down, one of my top favorite songs off this album. Just like me, senior Christopher E. says that he “[likes Matty’s] voice and beats in this song.” He also adds that this song “takes [him] to a soothing place where [he] can relax all day.”
Christopher, I have to agree 100-percent with you on this one. This song, like “The 1975” is pretty relaxing for me. I can lay in bed all day and just listen to this song, and forget about all the worrisome things going on in my life.
“Loving Someone”
After that soothing, calm song comes a high-pitched, high-tempo song. Matty half-raps in this song, which I really like. It isn’t a sound he’s typically for, but it suits this new sound and his voice really well.
“I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It”
This is another long instrumental on the album. Although no one really knows what the lyrics of this song are, there are some rumors going around the internet about what they might be. Here is one that I could quickly rack up for you guys.
“The Sound”
This was the band’s second single. This is one of the record’s most upbeat songs, both musically and lyrically. The lyrics may be a little deceitful from all the contradiction but this song is by far the most uplifting. To finish of the song, we get an amazing guitar solo by Adam Hann.
“This Must Be My Dream”
This song starts off positively, but ends up going South. Matty even lets out a sigh halfway through the song as he realizes that the relationship that was going to “rearrange [his] world” ends up not being the love he thought it would be.
To end the song, there’s a wonderful saxophone solo that brings the mood back up.
“Paris”
If I could give Matty Healy an award, I’d give him an award for the best lyrics about a person who broke his heart. This song is a prime example as to why he deserves an award like that. This song is clearly about a romantic infidelity that, sadly, was something that probably happened to Matty in real life.
If you listen to the lyrics closely, they’re as sad as can be. But the guys decided to add some extra melancholy music to the back and make the song push us straight under our bed sheets and cry our eyes out as we think about all the horrible things that have happened to us.
“Nana”
As if the album couldn’t get more gloomy, Matty decides to write and record a song about his late grandmother. Now, naturally, a song like this would make us cry our eyes out, but Matty Healy is a musical genius.
In this song, he manages to turn a heartbreaking event into something memorable and so cute. He reminisces about his times with her and you can practically see little Matty and his grandmother having the time of their lives with each other.
“She Lays Down”
We’ve finally made it down to the last song on the record. And unlike all the other songs on this album, this song is the most acoustic-sounding. The song is just as sombre, but it’s a well-fitting conclusion to the album. The lyrics may say otherwise, but the more you listen to it, the more you will understand why it had to be written.
This song really helps the band complete the ’80s pop and funk sound they were striving for.
I know this whole article probably bummed you out, but I promise you this album is worth listening to. Also, if you get a chance, try and make it out to the band’s tour this spring. They’ll be in Los Angeles on the 17th and 18th of April so try to make it out, you won’t regret it, I promise.
If the previews of the songs weren’t enough to convince you that the album is amazing and you don’t want to buy it just yet, the album will be released on Spotify on March 11, 2016, so be sure to check it out then.
