After pulling a Houdini on us and disappearing from the social media scene, The 1975 is back with their second album. Sure the album title is a mouthful, but “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It” is an apt description of this beautiful masterpiece. 3 years after their debut self-titled album, this record proves that the wait was definitely worth it.
As someone who prioritises Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift on my playlists, The 1975 isn’t at once an obvious choice in my music library. 10 minutes in to the album, however, and I’m pretty convinced that they’re my new favourite band.
I decided to start my musical exploration of this British rock band with “Love Me”, the first track and also the first single from this era. Adhering to the track’s suggestion, I really did love it. With a confident ‘80s beat, it’s just one of those songs that you can picture playing from a vinyl.
Moving down the tracklist, it’s hard to play favourites with the songs; the easy tunes and groovy guitar chords bring such a seamless transition between the tracks, the cohesiveness of the LP is in its self-assured style and sound.
One noteworthy track would be “Nana”. It’s such a beautiful tribute to one’s grandma. It almost makes me want to pick up my phone and call my grandma and give her a hug. If you’re a softie, this song will hit you right in the feels.
“She’s American” is another favourite of mine. The upbeat song is a nice change from the mellow beats that permeate the album, and one that you can easily dance to. Optional: wishing that you’re the American that frontman Matt Healy’s singing about.
If you’re looking for a track for that road trip video you took with bae, I would strongly suggest “The Sound”. What sound is the track talking about? Well, the sound of your heart, of course! The electropop vibes will meld beautifully with setting sunsets and close ups of your significant other.
All in all, it’s a pretty amazing record with pretty amazing album art to boot. I’ve never been one to judge an album by their artwork, but the simplicity of the neon lights is an accurate reflection of the album. The 1975’s clean-cut sound and good vibes make it easy to keep them on replay.
If you’ve yet to check it out, have a listen on Spotify below. It really is beautiful and you might just be unaware of it.
