The 1975 left everyone obsessed with their unique sound after their debut self-titled album and they are back again with their follow up record "I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It." Gosh, that's a mouth full, ain't it? The album was released on Friday, Feb. 26, so naturally as soon as it downloaded I was on top of it and reveling in the new sound of heaven's angels. The band definitely explored with more diverse instruments and have taken on a slightly more mellow vibe on this album. Here is my track by track review.
1. "The 1975."
A revamped version of the song "The 1975" off the first album, this track offers more vocals and layered harmonies.
2. "Love Me."
The first single released from this album back in 2015, "Love Me" contains some vocals resembling that of the '80s electronic band Depeche Mode. In a catchy tune, it calls out all the hypocritical and shallow ideals of modern media and culture. Check out the outlandish music video here.
3. "UGH!"
Frontman Matty Healy has described this song as "something that goes back to the early foundation of how we write music as The 1975." Funky tunes and a hypnotic melody illustrate the difficulty of giving up drugs. The music video is filled with many lights, just like their shows.
4. "A Change of Heart."
If you like "The City," "Robbers," and "Sex" by The 1975, this track incorporates concepts from all three. This simple, but beautiful, three-note ballad narrates the stages of falling out of love with someone.
5. "She's American."
This song definitely brings out the original sound of The 1975, sounding eerily similar to "Chocolate" and "Girls." The song is a romantic encounter that pokes fun at the cultural differences between the U.K. and the U.S.
6. "If I Believe You."
With instrumental organization inspired by jazzy gospel music, a definite artistic change for the band, "If I Believe You" is a cry to a higher power as the narrator questions whether his lack of belief will prevent him from being spared. This is a truly interesting experiment for the band and it works wonders.
7. "Please Be Naked."
When the track list for the album was released, many people, including myself, believed this song to be about sex. However, this is the first instrumental track on the album and it is quite somber. Towards the end, it swells only to retreat back to the original piano roots.
8. "Lostmyhead."
The few lyrics reiterate the closing lines of the band's 2012 track "Facedown." Distorted guitars begin to gently ascend before the song rockets into a powerful night-driving-through-the-stars anthem that sounds influenced by David Bowie's "Heroes."
9. "The Ballad of Me and My Brain."
Strategically placed after "Lostmyhead," "The Ballad of Me and My Brain" captures the moment in which he searches for his lost brain. Through angry vocals, Healy illustrates the effects of being on tour on his mental health.
10. "Somebody Else."
This mellow and hypnotic piece revolves around the effects of knowing a past lover has now found another person to allow into their life in an intimate way. The song premiered as Zane Lowe's World Record on Beats Radio 1 on Feb. 15, 2016. This is one of my personal favorites.
11. "Loving Someone."
Another creative divergence from the first album, this half-rapped record is an observation of society, including lines about how the media and popular culture conditions the youth ("It's better if we keep them perplexed/Better if we make them want the opposite sex.")
12. "I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It."
The lengthy title track of the album was assumed to contain lyrics, but instead it contains a short-lived vocal accompanied by a technical instrumental. Healy told KROQ that the phrase originates from something he said to a past girlfriend, but he reckons it wasn't as romantic as it seems.
13. "The Sound."
Following a few mellow tunes comes this lighthearted beat that was released as the third single from the album. The lyrics seem to strictly relate to the frustrations that can come with intimacy in relationships. However, the music video features them taking a humorous stab at their critics.
14. "This Must Be My Dream."
True to it's title, "This Must Be My Dream" incorporates dreamy, twinkly sounds with muffled vocals, making it seem like you actually entered some type of dream land. And who doesn't like a good saxophone solo?
15. "Paris."
Not going to lie, this song is downright depressing. Combined with the glittering, melancholy mesh of the musical build, the lyrics about a coked up girl and the narrator's own insecurities makes this piece very sad. Nevertheless, it's still a great and calming listen.
16. "Nana."
The band has never been known to strip down to the basics of instruments, so when I heard this acoustic guitar tune, it surprised me. This beautiful slow song is assumed to be about the narrator's deceased grandmother.
17. "She Lays Down."
If you were hoping to have a pick-me-up tune to end the album after being depressed, then you're out of luck because this song is similar to the previous one in its acoustic nature. With fingerpicked arpeggios, the frontman sings about his mother's postnatal depression after giving birth to him.
On that wonderful note, I swear this album is beyond amazing and you should definitely give it a listen. The record is more mellow in nature than the freshman album, but nonetheless, it is still a great testament to the genius that is this band. You can purchase the album here.





















