It’s taken over ten years for this alternative rock band from Manchester to attract the limelight it deserves, but the 1975’s debut album is representative of some of the most ethereal indie music to grace our charts. If there are big fans out there or those who have heard a few of their chart-hitting tracks and want to get to know them more, their deluxe edition squeezes all of their EPs onto the second disc, totalling to 33 tracks in all. So after eleven years of making music, four EPs and three singles, we welcome the long-awaited debut album of the 1975…
The album begins with a short introduction track which incorporates all the things teens love to hear, all to a soft, electric beat in the background. The lyrics are all representative of the themes to follow throughout the album – the exploration throughout the themes of discovery and love, sex and drugs. Taking a tempo leap, our love is re-kindled with The City, the final single to be released before the release of the album, originally from the EPs Facedown and IV. The simple, one-liner chorus makes this an easy hit, with a catchy chorus tempo and a strong drum beat to bop to.
My response when I first heard M.O.N.E.Y. was that I’d skipped to a Bonobo or Gold Panda track. This trance-laced recording works well with the striking guitar riffs and poppy drug-themed lyrics. Definitely one to listen out for, this track is certainly unique in this already distinctive collection. Inarguably the best-known tracks off the album, Chocolate and Sex are definitive “indie pop” songs exploring teen rebellion and curiosity into sex and drugs to upbeat, catchy rhythms we’ve all heard. Excellent choices for debut releases, no doubt and places the band in the genre they’re made for.
It is here that we see why Healy talks of his influence by Bowie, with high, gentler vocals. Heart Out stands out for me for its use of saxophone in the interlude is a combination I am personally favourable of. It adds a retro eighties twist and has been adopted by other electronic artists such as Klingande and Bakermat. Tracks Settle Down and the upcoming release Girls work well as chart-hitting singles with Two Door Cinema Club guitar riffs and Healy’s vocals similar to that of Brandon Urie and Patrick Stump. The first disc ends unexpectedly with a surprising mellow out with hints of Bon Iver, Benjamin Francis Leftwich and S. Carey influences, heavy on the piano and minimal beat.
If anybody is new to The 1975 music, then the deluxe version is definitely a worthwhile investment. The second disc comprises of the four EPs: Facedown, Sex, Music for Cars and IV. With a calmer, quieter mood compared to the album, this disc gives an insight into the musical journey these boys have taken throughout the years. Tracks to listen out for include Undo, Fallingforyou and So Far (It’s Alright.)
As somebody who finds medicinal value in music, I would recommend The 1975’s self-titled debut album to anybody who needs a dose of calm, tranquility and contentment. The overall mood of this album is one that I could listen to again and again, from blasting their chart-hitting boppers in the car, to their gentle interludes getting me through an assessment.
The bottom line is, is that although the group claim their influences come from all likes as Michael Jackson, David Bowie and Prince, there is no one that sounds quite like the 1975. They’re inarguably odd, and that in itself, is what makes them inarguably great.