Anvie Kay
Star Rating: ★★★★★
A compilation of their previous tracks and adding a few new tunes to showcase their talents, The 1975’s self-titled album is one that demands your attention and begs that you lend them your ears.
The 1975 – Opening the album, this track is hypnotic and mystic as it sets the tone for the rest of the album.
The City – Kicking off with heavy drum beats, this song is about searching for love. The lyrics suggest that love is found in ‘the city’. It’s got that feel of city life – fast-paced, full of noise and absolutely full of opportunities. It’s great song to pump out loud and belt out at the top of your lungs.
M.O.N.E.Y. – A little more techno and vocally hypnotic, this is talks about the darker side of living in the fast lane. It sings about the balance of satisfying addictions and having enough dough to fund those addictions. The mixing in this song is perfect, especially in the chorus, it really relays the spiral that the persona finds himself in.
Chocolate – This one’s a little more playful, with a funky riff that’s carried throughout the song. It talks about outlaws living their lives on the run with just the sent or remnants of chocolate to remind them of the life they left behind. It’s quirky and lively and really gives you that sense of running away. Definitely one of my favourites.
Sex – No need to tell you about what this song is about. But it’s also rather cheeky in the sense that you’re never really sure if they do it considering they repeat line, ‘she’s got a boyfriend anyway’. Musically, the accompaniment really gives it that chase-like feel and pushes the attempt to really get to that point where they sleep together, but they never seem to get there.
Talk! – Singing about fighting, this song questions the need to raise you voice in a violent, nonsensical manner. It’s another one of my favourites lyrically. It’s a great song overall, but I like the lyrics due the “big words” that aren’t commonly found in songs now a days. Kudos!
An Encounter – This is a nice instrumental break in the album.
Heart Out – Bass intro, lightly drizzled with electric keys – nice. It’s got a little 80s feel to it, as it talks about a love that’s just starting and stems from damage on both sides. It’s a really funky song. Again, another great song lyric wise and is well complemented by the accompaniment to tell a story.
Settles Down – Another 80s-like tune, it tells a story that unavoidable charge between two people. It’s a magnetic love – sometimes you’re polar opposites and just connect, while other times you’re the same charges and you’re just repelled by one another. I like the frustration in the chorus and the gentleness in the verses, just so the story is relayed beautifully vocally.
Robbers – Another song about the life on the run, this time, it’s more solemn in the sense that it really depicts the loss of the fact that this life has robbed them of loved ones. There’s a real anguish in the vocals and the accompaniment is delicate in relaying the sadness that this song demands. Easily another one of my favourites.
Girl – A little disco feel and playful musically, but lyrically it’s talking about the idea of the fact that the girls their ‘messing around with’ are simply ‘just girls,’ looking to find their way in the big time any way they can. Although it’s a song that’s talks about that generational gap and weighs the positives and negatives about relating with younger girls, it’s a song that makes you want to dance and sing along!
12 – Another instrumental break, a little softer than the last one.
She Way Out – Talking about that girl that seems way too good for you, yet doesn’t seem to fit in the ‘fun’ scene, because ‘she way out’ of his league, this song is quirky, cheeky and one I can say I had a lot of fun listening to. Sadly, I can relate to the girl being depicted – hahaha!
Menswear – Scene: wedding and everything that comes with the festivities. ‘Free bar’, manic maid of honour and that groomsman that doesn’t seem to understand etiquette. It’s a short song, but it really captures a reception nicely.
Pressure – Painting a picture of living a damaged life in display. Lyrically simple, this song is a great one to really think about. The accompaniment is a great balance to the picture being painted.
Is There Somebody Who Can Watch You? – Softer that the rest of the album this song strips back and leaves the piano to carry the song. It’s almost an unspoken apology for not being there for someone. It’s a beautiful song, and one that perfectly closes the album. This is my favourite song in the album – lyrically, musically and vocally.
Overall it’s a great mix of fast and slow songs. It’s really cheeky and quirky, it’ll definitely have you singing along or up on your feet dancing. Some songs need your attention lyrically and other just demand your voice to raise the roof.
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