The 1975, a band that many millennials are familiar with, released their second studio album entitled I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it on Feb. 26. The album might be nearing a month old, but its relevance and significance is far from dwindling in the world of music. The English band released their successful self-titled debut album in September of 2013, and ever since the band has become well-known and favored by many. Songs like “Chocolate” and “Settle Down” have not lost popularity since their first album, which truly set the bar high for their sophomore release.
The 1975 is often referred to as an indie pop or indie rock group, which is a genre that has become quite mainstream in recent years. Their presence on social media is a huge reason for their largely millennial fan base. With the band’s Instagram page having over a million followers (and lead singer Matty Healy having over half a million), it is evident that their following is devoted and definitely sizeable. The band is also extremely present on the popular blogging site, Tumblr. It is near impossible to visit the site without seeing something regarding the 1975, whether it be a picture, quote or song. Months before the release of I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, sneak peeks of the album were featured all over the site, along with on many other social media platforms. Healy went as far as to tweet various lyrics from the album before its release, giving the band’s audience a taste of what was to come.
Given the previous album’s success, the bar was set quite high for this installment, and it was highly anticipated by their outrageously dedicated fans. Overall, the album received generally favorable reviews, and hit number one on the U.S. and U.K. charts. Currently, the album is listed at number six on the iTunes top alternative albums chart, demonstrating its overwhelming commercial success.
The 1975 has been known for long song titles and a lengthy album runtime, and they definitely lived up to this expectation with I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it. While other bands would likely receive criticism for this, the 1975 is a band that can get away with it, since it totally fits into their “aesthetic.” After the album’s intro, it goes into its lead single “Love Me,” which is a very upbeat and catchy song. “UGH!,” “She’s American” and “The Sound” are other songs off the album that play along with this upbeat and happy feel.
Unlike their more fast paced songs, “Somebody Else” and “Loving Someone” embody a much more chill vibe, which the 1975 always achieves flawlessly. Similar to their debut album, they included some instrumental tracks (“Please Be Naked” and “Lostmyhead”) which fit in perfectly with the overall flow. The band often uses synthesizers and electronic flares in their songs which they include in this title frequently, but they also introduced a few acoustic songs that added a beautiful contrast. “She Lays Down” and “Nana” are two of these slower songs that are extremely low-key and raw, and they conclude the album amazingly.
Rebecca Roth, sophomore communication student, is a huge fan of the 1975 and found their album to be a huge success. She said, “I was afraid the new album wouldn’t live up to their first, but I was wrong. It’s their original sound with a twist, and it’s amazing. I love how they refer to some of their old stuff in this album, and the title is great too.”
Their fan base was noticeably highly pleased with the album, and its recognition is only growing. Regardless of the amount of time that has passed since its release, I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it remains extremely popular. The 1975 is on tour now, and will be in close proximity to Monmouth on May 15 in Philadelphia, May 17 in New York City and June 18 in Seaside Heights.
IMAGE TAKEN from ew.com
