1975 – I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it

The 1975 does it again, this time in pink. 

The 1975 is finally back after three long years since their debut album The 1975, but this time in pink. So how good is the 1975 in pink? Releasing a very ‘Matt Healy’ titled second album I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, the band has made its very first No.1 album on the Billboard 200 chart despite its recent release on February 26, 2016. Not bad for a band who has never even made it into the top 10 chart until now.

Bringing out the inner-fangirl squeals with the blatantly inauthentic yet charming album title, fans probably expected the usual Matt Healy girl-swooning emblem soaked into this album. And by the ‘Matt Healy’, I mean songs on love, lust, girls, drugs and youth expressed through very well written verses that give this intangible butterfly effect in the stomach. However, I like it when you sleep… is heavily influenced by the ’80s pop-rock sound, featuring a wide tempo range from up-beat pop funk to ambient ballads. The 1975 has created a second album with songs straying from its past repertoire; you can’t be too surprised about that.

The change was predictable after the band gave the fans the ultimate musical tease of the century through a mysterious neon-pink social media campaign, leaving many to wonder where the band was headed. Preceding a mysterious post about identity change, the 1975 deleted all social media accounts causing fans to go into complete hysteria. The band then began posting neon-pink album covers featuring their logo, hinting at a possible second album. The only question left until the release date was how the 1975 was going to go about this change.

The lengthy 75-minute second album with a total of 17 songs contains more of the ambient sounds with a handful of songs going at a slow and mellow tempo. But it’s also an album where you can deficiently feel the ’80s pop influence with synth guitar melodies, jazzy base line beats, electronic keyboards tunes and 808 drum machine. It produces a different kind of “catchiness” compared to their debut album, where the 1975 sound was present with the heavy drums, finger-tapping beats and irresistible guitar hooks. Instead, it embraces the nostalgic ’80s synthpop beats. The album appears to follow the ongoing dialogue in Matt Healy’s mind; his thoughts, views and frustration on pop-culture, religion, girls and love.

I like it when you sleep… begins with “Love Me” a very non-1975 song, heavily infused with 80s pop with a David Bowie touch poking fun at the current celebrity-obsessed culture. “If I Believe You” follows Matt Healy’s contemplation on whether or not to believe in Christ, a slow jazzy saxophone jam accompanied by a gospel choir in the background. A “Change Of Heart” is an interesting play back on songs from previous album “Robbers” and “Settle Down” explaining the realization in the flaws of a girl who once Matt Healy viewed as a beauty queen straight from a magazine. The 808 drumbeats from drummer George Daniel adds to the sentimental sound of the number. Songs “She’s American” and “The Sound” embraces the bands original sound from their debut album with more synthpop guitar riffs and strong piano chords. “The Sound” is definitely a bed-jumping jam with its upbeat tempo and killer drum beats by drummer George Daniel. “Somebody Else” combines the essence of 1975 with a very finger-snapping reminiscing sound of the ’80s, really fitting the vocals of Matt Healy. “Paris” contains the harmonic ’80s guitar tune giving a very Hall and Oates with The Police mix making for a very mellow but catchy number. “Nana” is a true tearjerker number, a smooth number with a steady drum beat with saddest lyrics about Matt Healy’s departed grandmother. “She Lays Down” finishes the album with a surprise; an acoustic guitar following the mood of previous song “Nana” leaving you in a helpless nostalgia.

Like caramel and salt, the sweet but savory combination of ’80s pop and the 1975 rock sound complement each other; making for an awkwardly good sentimental sound. The album overall was very entertaining as it was very unpredictable as to what sound would follow next; if was it going to be a pop-funk rock number or a mellow acoustic guitar number.

So did the 1975 pull off the pink? I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it may have proved the bands capability to rock a multitude of colors.