In 2015 my life was changed forever as a close friend of mine introduced me to the little-known The 1975. Songs like The City, Robbers, and Girls rocked my brain with their pop, grunge, and electronic hybrid sound. Then shortly after my reality was altered again as ILIWYS came out in February 2016. Now flash forward to just a few days ago. Matty and the boys’ newest installment has dropped and I must say it feels like a refreshing return to form.
Fans of the band will be delighted to know that the album begins as always with the self-titled track. While it’s thankfully not an environmental activism advertisement, it’s admittedly not like the first 3 albums either. This piano riff-driven track starts quite simply but builds as Matty tells of his musings on the world, now in his 30s and in a social media-focused environment. The song also shifts from the high energy feeling to a more subdued and almost laggy song, featuring an extended saxophone solo as the band has almost become known for.
“I’m sorry if you’re living and you’re 17.”
Matty Healy in The 1975
Next on the docket is the already well-received Happiness. This bouncy 80s-infused bop ticks all the right boxes. Chorused guitars check, wide analog synths check, and last but not least a screaming sax solo. Keeping with their retro sound Looking For Somebody (To Love) tells a little of what we all sometimes feel in searching for that “one person.” It’s high energy the whole time, balancing nicely against Happiness.
Part Of The Band is the first of the more experimental tracks on the album, splitting the song between two main ideas. A string-driven pattern and then a more subdued guitar, drums, and light layered vocals. Oh, Caroline might be my favorite of this album with its hopeful message saying “I wanna get it right this time.” I’m In Love With You feels like a Happiness sequel, with a very similar vibe, instrumentation, etc. Just a feel-good romp with a boy who’s fallen for someone. All I Need To Hear was the last of the singles released before the album, and it’s a hard left turn from the previous tracks. It’s a more stripped back song, with a simple rhythm section, strings, and what seems to be a sort of accordion in the background. It carries a live feeling, with Matty even leaving in some of the anecdotes he said as it was being recorded. Wintering is next, and for me personally is one of the least favorites on the album, though this isn’t an accusation against its quality. It feels like a fever dream, with tons of lyrics coming at you at light speed. It’s also a song that leans more into the folk/country atmosphere while retaining some of The 1975’s staple sounds. Things like Matty’s heavily layered vocals, some harmonizing and some simply modulating pitch. It’s a Christmas story and family drama all rolled into one.
Now, stop the percussion, I wanna have a discussion
And it’s Christmas so this is gonna be a nightmare
I just came for the stuffin’, not to argue about nothin’
Wintering by The 1975
Human Too is the next song, and it takes the energy to a more somber place. It feels almost like a blues, though the timbre and chords are still mostly major. It almost reminds me of the song I Couldn’t Be More In Love from Brief Inquiry, especially in some of the chord choices. Lyrically the song reminds us that we’re all human, prone to mistakes and (hopefully) eventually character growth. Matty reflects on his 20s again, and even says he’s sorry. “I’m sorry that I quite liked seein’ myself on the news,
And… I’m sorry that I’m someone that I wish I could change. But I’ve always been the same.” About You is the next to last track, and almost feels like a Coldplay or U2 track more than The 1975. Lots of reverb and spacy instrumentation over a more static beat. A sadder topic sets the stage, as he repeats “Do you think that I’ve forgotten about you?” to a seemingly lost love. It’s a much more easy listen than the bubblegum pop or heavier tones from some of the earlier tracks, though it sets quite nicely where it is as a way to bring the record down towards the end. Interestingly this song is a continuation of the musical motif in Robbers and An Encounter from the self-titled album, a very cool thing for the band to do.
Lastly, the album has When We Are Together. It embraces the folk vibe the album has hinted at, led by guitar and featuring a fiddle. Matty uses it to summarize a number of relationships and how they progressed and eventually fell apart. It’s a simple song to end with, leaving the listener with maybe a sense of remembrance or wanting to be with the ones they love
Overall this album feels like the old ones “used to”, maybe in the sense of a lot of the songs are focused on loves won and lost rather than arguing political opinions. Production wise all of their albums are of phenomenal quality, and this is no exception. They focus a lot on analog/hardware production, as more often than not it’s more conducive to a creative environment. This also gives a legitimate warmth to the music, not to mention adds to the “vintage” sound the band has become known for. As a longtime fan, this album is a breath of fresh air, and I for one can’t wait to see what else the boys can come out with.
