Many experts in music agree that the year 2013 was an excellent year for indie pop, with a number of now famous bands finding their first success during that year. One such band is known as the 1975, who saw nothing less than massive success as a result of their debut album, “The 1975.” After the massive success of this piece, the band began recording a follow-up album during most of 2015, and as a result released their second full-length piece in early 2016, known as “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It,” a work that not only continues the legacy that was created by the band’s first album in 2013, but continues to show that the four-piece from the UK has what it takes to be chart-toppers with their brand of ambient electropop and creative lyrics.
Despite recording “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It” for nearly a year, fans were largely unaware that the 1975 were in the studio recording a new album. In fact, many fans believed that the band’s debut album would be their only, and that eventually the band would announce a breakup or hiatus. While the rumors began to spread about the future of the 1975 and their music, the band was hard at work creating a new masterpiece, and began to hint at its release in October. October saw the release of the band’s first single since 2013 with the song “Love Me,” a tune that truly caught the attention of new listeners and long-time fans alike.
Long-time fans of the 1975 have come to expect their unique brand of ambient indie-pop, and they will no doubt love its presence in “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It.” While the album is entirely different from its earlier counterpart by way of lyrics and themes, it continues the same legacy fans came to love as a result of the first album. “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It” continues with many of the same musical concepts as the band’s self-titled debut, but the meanings behind the songs are vastly different, ranging from the shallowness of today’s society, to drugs, to religion, and lastly, love.
It’s this brand of uniqueness that makes “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It” an excellent album, and what makes the 1975 such musical geniuses. With this latest release, the four-piece were able to capture the essence of their first album and what it did to please its listeners, make enough changes for the new album to appear fresh and never-before-heard, and released a new masterpiece which will attract old and new fans alike. The 1975’s brand of indie pop is far different than any other on the charts today, and the release of “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It” really cements the 1975’s reputation as some of today’s best musical innovators.
The 1975’s newest release was prefaced by the release of the track “Love Me,” a single which captured the attention of indie pop fans everywhere. The song discusses fame in today’s culture, and how little it truly means. Lead singer and songwriter Matthew Healy approaches the obsession many people have with celebrities and musicians, and tells them it’s misplaced, ultimately asking his fans not to follow him as they would someone like a Kardashian (who he mentions by name in the song). This song was risky to say the least, as most bands thrive off of the inordinate amounts of attention they receive from fans, and most would agree that any artist looking to top the charts should appeal to the attraction of their audience. The 1975 does away with this idea, and outright tells their fans that such petty obsessions are misplaced, making for a highly interesting (as well as ear-pleasing) song to kick off the band’s new era.
While the 1975 brand themselves as an indie pop artist, their latest release features many songs which could be considered otherwise. In fact, tunes such as “UGH!” and “She’s American” are notably heavy for the typically smooth indie quartet. This rolls back into their traditional indie pop sound with songs such as “The Sound,” and brings listeners back to the band’s first album with very similar tones.
The final song on “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It” is quite heart touching, and its meaning is almost unexpected from an otherwise upbeat artist. The last song on the album is titled “She Lays Down,” during which Healy gets real with his listeners and talks about the effects of his mother’s post-natal depression, during which she chooses cocaine and essentially causes trouble for herself and her son (the lead singer of the band). This somber yet relatable song is an excellent note with which to end an otherwise fantastic album, and really shows just how versatile the 1975 can be.
After listening to “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It,” it’s very clear that long-time fans of the 1975 will enjoy the albums subtle connections to their debut album, and new fans will be drawn in by its peaceful, ambient tones. The diversity of the music on the album is sure to appeal to fans of all types, making “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It” truly worth the listen, whether it be by fans of old or those simply looking to explore a new type of indie pop.
_____
Follow The 1975:
Facebook: The 1975 Official
Twitter: @the1975
Instagram: @the1975
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the1975
Website: http://the1975.com