Member Since: 9/13/2012
Posts: 7,285
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1. The 1975
- Gorgeous opener. Really sets the tone for the album. I can already picture this getting the crowd ready for them to come on stage. I won't rank this one since it's so short
2. Love Me - 7/10
- I loved this at first, but it's gotten a bit stale for me. The lyrics are smart, but they're capable of much better.
3. UGH! - 9/10
- A great fusion of R&B, synth pop, and alternative music. The song is so boppy that you almost don't notice the lyrics and the actual meaning behind it.
4. A Change of Heart - 7.5/10
- If Robbers had sex with Crazy For You by Madonna, it would be this song. The instrumental in the verses is a little too reminiscent of Robbers for my liking, and the synth that goes on and on at multiple points in the song gets a little grating.
5. She's American - 10/10
- Duran Duran + Madonna + The 1975 = She's American. 80's dance rock heaven. The guitar riff in the verses is heavenly, great lyrics, and his enunciation in the verses is actually good for one. One of the album highlights.
6. If I Believe You - 8/10
- A bit of a curveball after getting so far into this album. It's completely different from the songs that precede it. It's interesting to her Matty so vulnerable and candid about something as tough as religion. This song doesn't have high replay value, but it's good to listen to to mellow out.
7. Please Be Naked - 4/10
- If you're gonna make an instrumental, make it interesting. This one is not.
8. Lostmyhead - 6.5/10
- Pretty sure this is on one of their early EPs. It's solid, but not a standout. It gets lost, especially in the middle of an album that lags a bit.
9. The Ballad of Me And My Brain - 10/10
- Lyrically, this is one of the best songs on the album. The instrumental sounds like a combination of something you would hear on an acclaimed hip hop album and something from their debut. Matty's vocals are what make this song great.
10. Somebody Else - 10/10
- A moody, melancholy slice of synth/alt pop heaven. Everything about this song is great.
11. Loving Someone - 6.5/10
- Another song that sort of gets lost. Another R&B-influenced song that lyrically is very strong. It just doesn't stick out.
12. I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it - 7.5/10
- Where Please Be Naked fails, this track succeeds. It's interesting, fun, bubbly, and sad at the same time. One of their better instrumental tracks.
13. The Sound - 9/10
- Another great power pop moment. Loved this since it debuted, and unlike Love Me, it hasn't gotten old for me.
14. This Must Be My Dream - 8.5/10
- More 80s synth/dance rock heaven. The melody on this is very strong, and as is with most of this album, it's lyrically strong. Love the sax solo as well.
15. Paris - 7/10
- This song is a bit weird. A song about a ****ed up girl, lyrics about cutting wrists, infidelity, etc. make for a very depressing song. The instrumental reminds me of a movie.
16. Nana - 8/10
- A gut-wrenching ode to a lost grandparent that is easily their most emotional song to date. Great lyrics and a smooth vocal delivery make this song all the better.
17. She Lays Down - 8/10
- The subject matter here is weird (about his mom's struggle with post-natal depression), but again, lyrically great and Matty's vulnerability vocally elevate the song above what it could have been.
Overall: 8.0/10. The album is extremely eclectic. There's synth pop, dance rock, power pop, folk, gospel, R&B, and even more. Lyrically, they've never been better. The melodies and production of the album are far superior to their debut. I love their debut, but overall, this is a step up and a prime example of how you can go pop/more mainstream, but not sell out and stay true to yourself at the same.
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