From their very first release, the 1975 have been a band that's been very interesting . They've written some of my favorite modern pop and rock tracks, but on the other hand their records can be confusing, bloated, and scattered. I'd be lying if I said that didn't add to their mystique though. At any rate, I decided to rank their LP's from my least to most favorite.
As always, I am just ranking original releases, no deluxe, remaster etc. Let's go!
5. The 1975 (2013)
Starting off with their official debut album we have their self titled release from 2013. This album, much like most of their others I’ve found, is a little journey with peaks and valleys. The good on this album is really good, and holds up well. It can be overly produced and so poppy at times it’s almost saccharine, and not always for the better. The guitar tone throughout is excellent, however, and is a highlight of a pretty decent final mix. It’s admittedly a little bit bloated, with a few tracks not living up to the high points and feeling a bit like filler. The scattershot songwriting nature applies to the album as a whole, and if it was trimmed down just a little the best parts of the album would stand out that much more. Still, it’s worth a listen, with the spectacle and slickness of songs like Sex or the smooth and funky tracks like Chocolate carrying things.
Standout tracks: Sex, Chocolate, Robbers, Settle Down, Girls
4. A Brief History into Online Relationships (2018)
Leaning heavily into big, flashily produced pop beats and heavy lyrical themes, this record features some of the most interesting, but also most bland, music in their library. The 1975 are never afraid to experiment with their sound, and nothing they make is going to cater to everyone. While I appreciate the limb they go out on with this release, and the emotional highs at play rival some of their best work, some of the tracks here just simply aren’t for me. But that’s okay! They gave us some really memorable bops that I’m just gonna keep on jamming to.
Standout tracks: Love it if We Made it, Be My Mistake, It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You), I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)
3. Notes on a Conditional Form (2020)
From the very first moments of this album, the 1975 show that they aren’t afraid to take risks with this release and they keep that momentum up for the rest of the track list. The Greta Thunberg speech sets the tone for an album that I honestly wish was more concise in the messaging they seemed to want to portray from that opening. There are times this album feels almost too chaotic, scatterbrained, and unfocused, but it almost draws me to this release even more. It’s a fascinating record that took the typical 1975 experience to the next messy, poppy, highly produced era. It feels like you’re truly on a ride with Matt Healy and the rest of the band. The inspirations range from R&B, pop, rock, EDM, folk, and more. None of it is done badly, either. These are a set of musicians who can pull off seemingly any style. But just because you CAN, SHOULD you? I don’t have the answer to that, but I’m thankful that this exists, for the spectacle of it all alone. The writing is so hot and cold\up and down, and that is beautiful in its own way, I suppose.
Standout tracks: The Birthday Party, Then Because She Goes, Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America, Me and You Together Song, If You’re too Shy (let me know)
2. I Like it When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful But So Unaware (2016)
What would the opposite of a sophomore slump be considered? A sophomore surge? Whatever you’d call it, that’s exactly what the 1975 gave us with their second LP. It manages to be both longer, yet somehow more focused and concise than their debut. The pop tracks on offer here almost all hit, with more focused production allowing the listener to really hear the great musicianship at play. There is a nostalgic, almost romantic feel to a lot of the best tracks, feeling like they were ripped straight from an 80s night club. Matt Healy has also begun to find his lyrical footing at this point, with the hooks and choruses being catchy, memorable, and often cheeky throughout. There are hints of folk, indie rock, and even new wave sprinkled throughout as well, in addition to dreamy and loose instrumentals that help add to the flow and feel they were going for.
Standout tracks: Love Me, She’s American, If I Believe You, Somebody Else, the Sound, This Must be My Dream, Nana
1. Being Funny in a Foreign Language (2022)
‘Being Funny in a Foreign Language’ is easily the 1975’s best effort to date, in my opinion. It’s the most focused, realized, and tight album they’ve made, and features a sonic consistency that tends to be missing from their work. Every song flows, and they are at their best from a songwriting and instrumentation perspective. There are jazzy moments, some quiet introspective moments, cocky pop tunes, all done with Matt Healy’s signature brash lyrical style. Just good stuff up and down. I Recommend a full listen front to back, it’s truly the best way to experience this incredible record.
Standout tracks: Part of the Band, Oh Caroline, I’m in Love With You, All I Need to Hear, Human Too, About You, When we Are Together
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