COMM 380:  Media Criticism

 Rarely can a band or artist transcend multiple genres of music in a way that produces a combined sound that is both cohesive and original. This is precisely what Manchester band The 1975 has done with their sophomore album titled, I like it when you sleep for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it. This is an album in which the lyrics are as dynamic and pure as the sound production and musical arrangement. From the gospel chords to the techno beats and mellow ballads, this album fuses together a multitude of different concepts for a diverse sound and eclectic feel. In this critique I will analyze how the album cuts across multiple genres and influences to produce a unique sound that is sure to please any listener. 

            The 1975 are a band made up of four English natives including front man and singer/guitarist Matty Healy, bassist Ross MacDonald, lead guitarist Adam Hann and drummer George Daniel. The group’s friendship seemed to be fate. According to an interview with The Guardian, “This four-piece; Matthew Healy, Ross MacDonald, Adam Hann and George Daniel all met at school in their early teens,” (Brinnand, 2012, n.p.). As a new band, the group experimented with different identities. They played small gigs under a variety of different names. An article by LA Live says, “The original names of the band before becoming The 1975 were Talkhouse, The Slowdown, Big Sleep, and Drive Like I Do,” (“Things you didn’t know,” n.d.). The article discusses how they decided on the final name saying, “Matty Healy discovered the band name in the back of a beat-era book given to him at a yard sale. “In the back there were all these mental scribblings, it was almost suicidal, and it was dated at the bottom ‘1st June, The 1975’. The use of the word ‘The’ really stuck with me. It was the perfect band name,” (“Things you didn’t know,” n.d.). 

            After choosing a name, the band focused on creating a cohesive identity. The band’s social media accounts were all exclusively black and white photos with minimal text and abstract art. This provided the band with a recognizable aesthetic that has made them easily identifiable by fans. The next step was choosing the first few songs to share with the public. They signed with the U.K. label Dirty Hit Records in 2013 and were the first artist signed by the label to achieve a number one hit. The 1975 soon established themselves as a band, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2013. It landed them a decent spot on the charts, but received mixed reviews. Rolling Stone Magazine gave it a less-than-stellar review saying, “The 1975 could use some enunciation lessons and an editor: Their debut, a Top 40 hit in America, is a long, often inscrutable set that rifles through synth-rock references,” (Ganz, 2013, n.p.). However, their popularity steadily increased as they took America by storm during their world tour, which began in 2013. 

            After almost two full years of touring, the band took a break to record their sophomore album. They moved to sunny Los Angeles to write and record; a much different environment from the rainy Manchester location where the first album was produced. Their first album was black and white with lyrics that talked about finding love and falling in love – a very naïve attitude. The second album took the group into a completely new direction while still remaining the same identifiable band. While the first album is dark and monochromatic, the second album is a Technicolor dream with a baby pink color serving as the main color of the new aesthetic. The sunny Los Angeles atmosphere is palpable in every aspect of the band’s fresh new album. 

            There is often a lot of pressure

placed on a band or artist by the industry

to produce a sophomore record that is

more successful than the debut album.

All good second albums should be a

continuation of the first album with an

extension of the elements that were

introduced.  This is precisely what

The1975 did with their second album.

Listeners got a preview of their second

work with two singles Love Me and UGH!,

both of which introduced a poppy new

sound. These songs are an excellent

representation of the album because of how they combine deep and personal lyrics with beats that are easy to listen to. The lengthily titled album, I like it when you sleep for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, was released 26 February 2016 and has since received heavy praise. 

            From the looks of their newly minted Technicolor social media platform and the pop influence apparent in their singles, people could easily assume the band shifted from their 2013 days of being a black and white alternative band. It is important to note how this “new” image is simply a continuation of their original work. Every ounce of the music is written and produced by Matty Healy and George Daniel, two of the four total band members. In an interview about the second album, Healy said, “There were no rules to this record, which is why it's such an eclectic, long record. The only mission statement was to make sure it was a distillation of anything we'd done before. I wanted to expand the world of the first record,” (Lynch, 2016, n.p.). The songs on the album exude a sound that is both intriguing and mature. 

            Since Healy writes all of the lyrics, he has a very obvious personal connection with the material that goes into each song. This is most apparent on stripped down songs like Nana, which narrates his day-to-day life following the death of his grandmother. Another song that tackles on Healy’s personal life is If I Believe You, which NME decribes saying, “It's about him being an atheist who’s thinking about turning to religion, but only on the condition his pain and suffering stops ("If I believe you, will that make it stop?"), (Daly, 2016, n.p.). This song is full of gospel influences which makes an interesting combination with the lyrics written by an atheist who is longing for religion but only if it can remedy his personal issues. These issues are further highlighted in songs like A Change of Heart and Somebody Else. The album has a lot of hidden gems that tie into the debut album. For example, one of their 2013 hit songs The City has lyrics that say (“If you want to find love, then you know where the city is…”). The 2016 song A Change of Heart follows up with lyrics that say (“I never found love in the city/I just sat in self pity and cried in the car/I just had a change of heart…”). The sophomore album is about growing out of the very naive phase of thinking love will last forever, or even exist at all. 

            One of my personal favorite songs is Paris; a song that narrates the relationship with a completely delusional character – a girl – who is caught up in all of the wrong things, partially thanks to Healy’s influence on her. The lyrics are tragic when they are read alone, yet beautiful when played against the shimmering sounds and upbeat tunes the song provides. An article by Daly comments on the song saying, “If Matty has a subject he’s best at writing about, it’s the fucked up individuals he meets and observes. ‘Paris’ is a masterclass in that. Its main focus is a coked up girl he meets at a party,” (2016, n.p.). The song is a complete success and excellent component to the album because of how it offers a very realistic scenario with unapologetic aspects while simultaneously giving the listener a fantastic tune to listen to and understand. 

            The album reached #1 on American and UK charts immediately after release and has since enjoyed a massive wave of praise from publications within the industry. Healy reflects on the personal evolution of the album saying, “ [On the new album], there is this resignation and wisdom -- I'm not calling myself wise, but I am wise with my own experiences -- and that knowing has replaced the hope of the first record,” (Daly, 2016, n.p.). This knowledge Healy refers to is a great summary of the album’s lyrical and compositional strength. 

 

 

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References

 

Brinnand, Emily. (2012, December 3). New band up north. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2012/dec/03/manchester-leeds-new-band-up-north-manchester-the-1975. 

 

Bono, Salvatore. (2013, September 13). Speaking with your new favorite band – The 1975. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/salvatore-bono/speaking-with-your-new-fa_b_3927658.html. 

 

Daly, Rhian. (2016, February 10). The 1975’s mad I like it when you sleep for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it – a track by track dissection. Retrieved from: http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/track-by-track-the-1975s-i-like-it-when-you-sleep-for-you-are-so-beautiful-yet-so-unaware-of-it. 

 

Things you didn’t know about The 1975. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.lalive.com/news/detail/things-you-didnt-know-about-the-1975. 

 

Ganz, Caryn. (2013, October 18). The 1975. Retrieved from: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/the-1975-20131018. 

 

Lynch, Joe. (2016, January 16). The 1975’s Matt Healy on fake famous friendships, his secret dance project & why trap is the new punk. Retrieved from: http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6858333/the-1975-new-album-matt-healy-interview.