the 1975

Week 42: the 1975- Being Funny in a Foreign Language

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Fuck’s sake. It has unfortunately come to this—another review on an overhyped band with the young crowd. I do not get the appeal of these little rich boys. They are simply awful. I’d rather listen to Tim Healy than his son.

For their fifth album (How the fuck did such a poor band make it to five?!), they employ the services of Jack Antonoff, who has worked with the likes of Taylor Swift on re-working her original records that were being held to ransom by Scooter Braun. You would think with; what he did with Taylor’s re-works, we would finally have a decent album by the 1975. Their leading single ‘Part of the Band’ showed promise (I think, I am going to be sick.)as it didn’t sound like their usual pop-rock dirge. I mean, the song has jazz influences over Matt’s conscious lyrics. Matt’s stream-of-conscious lyrics are probably the only thing going for them.

I find it insulting they dare acknowledge the likes of Crowded House, Michael McDonald, Paul McCartney or LCD Soundsystem. Their music is nowhere near any of their level. I zoned out on most of the record and went on my phone. A bloody awful album yet again. My instinct after listening to one of their songs on FIFA 14 was enough to tell me how crap they are. I stand by that, and I felt for all those at Reading and Leeds who had to endure them headlining when Zack was unfortunately injured while on tour with Rage Against the Machine. Hardly an apt replacement, is it?

Song recommendations: ‘Part of the Band’

1/10

Week Twenty-Two: the 1975- Notes on a Conditional Form

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The 1975 sleeve

I remember hearing about this band in 2013 and giving them a chance, but I didn’t think they lived up to the hyperbole they were getting. I couldn’t stand their song on FIFA 14 either and removed it from my playlist. And would they have got on if it wasn’t for their leader Matt Healy being born with the mother-of-pearl spoon in his mouth? It certainly helps when your parents are well-known British actors. It also helps they came along when the rock side of music was not really doing a lot.

The opening track, named after the band, features a piano with a speech given by Greta Thunberg at one of her many climate change rallies. I might not believe in everything she says, but I admire her passion. Climate change is just a case of nature taking its course, but it certainly doesn’t help when you’ve got fucking idiots drilling huge holes in the ice for research. If I were the scientists, I’d suggest they leave the drilling well alone. Of course, that will agitate the ice and cause it to break up.

The next track I will mention is “People” It has shite elementary lyrics, but the drum beat reminded me very much of Blur’s “Song 2” and a very unusual assault for the band into the punk genre. I never had them down as a punk band or even attempting to do punk. “the End” is just one of those fucking pointless throwaways that are known as interludes. This one is just a short-stringed instrumental. That then leads us into “Frail State of Mind”, which, in my opinion, is a failed attempt to appeal to the fans of the garage genre. It didn’t work, lads. It’s not your forte.

“Streaming” is just another stringed instrumental interlude. “Yeah I Know” is yet another failed attempt at appealing to the club scene with its garage element. Seriously, lads, leave well alone.

“Then Because She Goes” is trying to emulate the indie scene of the 1990s, with this track sounding like the Wannadies smash hit “You and Me Song”. “Shiny Collarbone” is trying once again to break into the club scene with this house instrumental with a ragga sample chucked in. “If You’re too Shy (Let Me Know)” is very 1980s.

The final two tracks I am going to mention are “Playing on My Mind”, which sees the band take time out to reflect and bring the tone down of the music by going acoustic and “Having No Head”, which is dance music that is ideal for a child’s disco.

I was thoroughly bored listening to this double-disc record; most of the time, the album didn’t hold my attention, and I wondered what my review would look like and if it would be even long enough. I cannot stand the band; I don’t understand the hyperbole surrounding them, and this album hasn’t changed my view.

Many of the fucking idiots who follow them will be like, “You’re just trying to be ‘edgy’ and ‘cool’ by saying you don’t like them”, but it IS actually true. I cannot stand them. My dislike of their music is genuine. Others might be like little sheep and follow, but I have my own mind, which tells me I do not like their music.

4/10