Throwback to 2013, when I was a high school junior, listening to “Sex” by The 1975 at my friend’s sleepover. I thought it was the coolest song in the world, and I instantly fell in love with the uber-British sound of Matty Healy’s vocals.
Now here I am, a college senior, eagerly anticipating the release of their third studio album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships.
During these past five years, their music has become my soundtrack, constantly echoing in my head.
I think what marks a great artist is when you can put on a track, close your eyes, and be completely transported to another time. More than any other artist, I’m able to connect so many of their songs to certain events and people.
I’m looking forward to extending my soundtrack, but The 1975 are the biggest teases in the entire universe. Matty initially told us that the album would be called Music For Cars, and it seemed like it was coming out on June 1.
But then Matty basically said, “LOL NEVERMIND,” which is not an exact quote, but it’s the general idea. He explained that Music For Cars would actually be an era, consisting of two albums. The second album is titled Notes On a Conditional Form, which is set to be released in 2019.
They’ve been putting up cryptic Instagram posts and billboards for months. Many of which display chilling images of our technology-driven lives, featuring the phrase, “First, disobey; then look at your phones.”
It has finally been confirmed that we’ll get the album on Nov. 30, as well as a tour starting in the UK and Ireland in January. They can honestly just take all my money. I’m fine with starving if it means front row.
Without further ado, here are some things I’m hoping to get from my favorite band’s new album:
Something to Make Me Cry
The 1975 has some emo classics, such as “Robbers” and “Somebody Else.” So far, the singles from this album are bops, but I haven’t cried yet. I’m counting on Matty to make me stare out the window on a rainy day, with mascara-stained tears running down my cheeks.
A Story
I’m hoping for a cohesive story within the lyrics. This is likely, since Matty has done this before, connecting songs from their first two albums.
I love little moments like that. I hope that there are plots established in this album that we’ll revisit during Notes On a Conditional Form.
More Orwellian Vibes
“Love It If We Made It” is my favorite single at the moment, and I love that it is quite literally inquiring into the dependency that we have on online relationships. “Modernity has failed us” is the lyric that rings throughout it, and it feels like a warning that we’re getting increasingly close to losing real human connection.
1984 by George Orwell is a classic story focused on a dystopian world, and the concept of loving Big Brother is definitely present in this track, without it crossing into gimmicky-territory. I love it and I need more of it.
Overall, the truth is that The 1975 could put out an album of them just reading off their grocery lists, and I would put it on repeat. Whether my hopes and dreams for the album come true or not, I don’t have a doubt that A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships is going to be blasting throughout my entire fall semester.