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2016 in Music

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It’s become an annual tradition… let’s take a look at the best music of 2016!

SONG OF THE YEAR:

Shura – What’s It Gonna Be

Whilst perhaps not the most famous of Pop songs released this year, this perfect Pop track was undoubtedly one of the musical highlights of the year. It’s a fizzy, endearing ’80’s-influenced Pop track about high school crushes full of essential repetition and a dizzying chorus. Shura’s almost whispered vocals are not dissimilar from Janet Jackson’s and it’s just a brilliant, brilliant record. Check out the incredible video too.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:

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

A lost rested on this highly anticipated second album from The 1975. After months of being promised brilliant things from Radio 1 & NME alike, in addition to Matt Healy boasting ‘the world needs this album’, the album finally arrived back in March and it was no disappointment. A beast of an album at 17 tracks and over an hour of music, it genre-hops frequently but it doesn’t disrupt the flow or brilliance of the album. There’s something for everybody – there’s the 80’s-influenced Pop-rock moments the public are familiar with from radio airplay, acoustic tracks, instrumental tracks, hell – even a huge D’Angelo-influenced gospel track!

There is not one dud moment on this album and it’s particularly brilliant during it’s ‘dream sequence’ section in which Healy documents losing his mind through a brilliant assortment of songs – beginning with ‘If I Believe You’ and finishing with the stunning ‘Somebody Else’. A brilliant, brilliant album.

TOP 10 SINGLE RELEASES OF THE YEAR

Shura – What’s It Gonna be?

See above for why we’ve chosen this track!

The 1975 – The Sound

To be honest, we could include any single from the band’s ‘I like it when you sleep…’ album – ‘A Change of Heart’, ‘Somebody Else’ etc – they are all just as brilliant as each other but we’ve chosen this, the biggest hit from the album. It’s everything Pop music should be – memorable, catchy, a little bit naughty lyrically and an absolute feel-good classic.

Christine & The Queens – Tilted

100% the most endearing song of this year. Less is often more and this repetitive but effortlessly catchy and funky Pop track is so endearing, it still sounds brilliant after being played EVERYWHERE. We need more Popstars like Christine – talented individuals who write their own music, have artistic vision and stay loyal to it.

Zayn – Pillowtalk

It’s been played to death but this track made a huge, bold statement upon its release at the beginning of 2016. Zayn’s entire ‘Mind of Mine’ album is a work of art, utilising frolicking synthesizers and alternative R&B miles removed from the sound of One Direction. There’s better songs on the album but it’s foolish to leave this huge hit from our list.

DNCE – Cake By The Ocean

Yeah, yeah, it’s been played to death but this funk-pop track with its metaphors and Joe Jonas’ smooth falsetto vocals is undoubtedly one of the catchiest, best pop songs of 2016.

Usher – Crash

The best songs often emphasise that less is more. This brilliant, subtle & moody R&B track avoids using an assortment of instruments and instead relies on Usher’s gorgeous falsetto reverberating into eerie synthesizers and a gentle dance beat. Usher at his most underrated is Usher at his best.

Robbie Williams – Love My Life

I’ve seen Mr Williams and this song get a lot of stick since its release & throughout its promotional process. I understand – Robbie’s vocals aren’t as sturdy as they once were and yes, lyrically, the song is a little ‘Tumblr’. That being said, there’s no denying this is a beautiful ballad with a lovely message. Those delicate piano chords are reminiscent of those on ‘Feel’ and this song deserved to fare just as well in the charts.

All Saints – One Strike

It takes guts for a band to make not one comeback but TWO. Their previous comeback achieved a successful single but the accompanying album flopped. This time, they returned with a scorching hot album (which reached the Top 3 of the album chart) and this fierce single. This single deserved better than its #115 position but then the single charts this year hasn’t necessarily represented good music (*ahem* One Dance being number one for 15 weeks…)

Mollie King – Back To You

Another hideously overlooked song this year. Mollie King, better known as a member of The Saturdays released this stunning, sultry electropop ballad as her debut single.

Before You Exit – When I’m Gone

Another underrated Pop smash from this year. These boys (the McDonagh brothers) deserve far more recognition. On first look, they may look like a generic boyband but they write and produce their own music. The glitchy electro production on this and the boys’ powerful vocals make it perhaps the most overlooked song of this year.

SINGLE RELEASES OF THE YEAR (LONGLIST)

Here is the long list of the best single releases of this year. We have loved, and been obsessed with every single one of these songs at some point of this year. Narrowing these down to the Top 10 above was incredibly hard but we think the Top 10 are representative of this year in great Pop music. Enjoy each of the rest of these songs!

  • Alicia Keys – Blended Family (What You Do For Love)
  • Before You Exit – When I’m Gone
  • Beyonce – Sorry
  • Blossoms – Charlemagne
  • Busted – On What You’re On
  • Charlie Puth & Selena Gomez – We don’t talk anymore
  • Christine & The Queens – Tilted
  • Craig David – When the bassline drops
  • DJ Snake & Bipolar Sunshine – Middle
  • DNCE – Cake by the Ocean
  • Drake – One Dance
  • Drake & Rihanna – Too Good
  • Ellie Goulding – Army
  • Ellie Goulding – Still Falling for You
  • Emeli Sande – Breathing Underwater
  • Frances – Borrowed Time
  • Gwen Stefani – Make you like me
  • James Arthur – Say You Won’t Let Go
  • Jesse Ware – Till the end
  • John Mayer – Love on the Weekend
  • Justin Bieber – Company
  • Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling
  • Little Mix – Touch
  • Louis Berry – Restless
  • Lukas Graham – 7 Years
  • Mac Miller – Dang!
  • Mollie King – Back To You
  • MUNA – Loudspeaker
  • Nick Jonas & Tove Lo – Close
  • Nothing But Thieves – If I Get High
  • Raleigh Ritchie & Stormzy – Keep it simple
  • Ratboy – Move
  • Rebecca Ferguson – Bones
  • Rick Astley – Dance
  • Rihanna – Kiss it Better
  • Rihanna – Work
  • Robbie Williams – Love My Life
  • Selena Gomez – Hands to myself
  • Shura – Touch
  • Shura – What’s It Gonna Be?
  • Sons of Sonix & Melanie C – Numb
  • The 1975 – A Change of Heart
  • The 1975 – Somebody Else
  • The 1975 – The Sound
  • The Chainsmokers & Halsey – Closer
  • The Fray – Singing Low
  • The Last Shadow Puppets – Miracle Aligner
  • The Weeknd – I Feel it Coming
  • TIEKS & Dan Harkna – Sunshine
  • Tom Chaplin – Quicksand
  • Usher – Crash
  • Viola Beach – Cherry Vimto
  • Wet – Deadwater
  • Wet – Weak
  • Zayn – Pillowtalk
  • Zayn – Like I Would
  • Bruno Mars – 24K Magic

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

All Saints – Red Flag

This album SO deserves its Top 3 album chart position. It’s a fierce album full of well written songs, slick production and a contemporary sound. These ladies deserve all the success in the world.

Busted – Night Driver

This album has been criminally overlooked this year. Many fans have complained of it being too ‘different’ from the sound they became famous for but music evolves through time. Busted made the right decision to leave the teeny-bopped pop-punk in the early noughties and try something new. The result is this stunning, atmospheric album on which the boys borrow sounds and elements from the best music of the 80’s. A brilliant album.

Frank Ocean – Blonde

This album is certainly worthy of the hype. It’s a moody and intriguing album which, whilst many of the songs feel like rough, unfinished ideas, it works.

Raleigh Ritchie – You’re a Man now, boy

Another hideously overlooked album from this year. This album gained a warm critical reception but this was not reflected in its chart position. It’s a lengthy album but one which is engaging throughout and its sound is quirky and fresh.

Rihanna – Anti

For an album that seemed to carry so much expectation then waves of anti-climax, reaction to this record was unfair. Sure, it’s not Rihanna at her commercial best but that’s why it’s so engaging and brilliant. Up ’till this album, Rihanna was the life of the party. On this album, she’s the life of the after party. It’s a moody, brooding and dark album but one which works perfectly.

Shura – Nothing’s Real

This is a stunning Pop record from start to finish, borrowing elements from Janet Jackson, Blood Orange and Madonna amongst others. Shura writes, produces and performs her own material and she’s hugely talented.

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

This mammoth, genre-hopping, bold and brilliant album has won countless awards throughout the year and deservedly so. Every song is incredible, well-written and fantastically produced.

Tom Chaplin – The Wave

Tom Chaplin is better known as the frontman of Keane. Upon their hiatus, he relapsed into drug addiction, the recovery process of which became the inspiration for this gorgeous album. It’s a hopeful album full of inspiring Pop music with the odd trickle of electronic production.

Wet – Don’t You

This indie-pop album is subtle and low-key but gorgeous throughout.

Zayn – Mind of Mine

Expectations were high for Zayn’s debut solo album and he did not disappoint. It’s a world away from the cheesy-pop of One Direction and instead turns to sultry alternative-R&B. It’s engaging and triumphant.

ALBUM RELEASES OF THE YEAR 

Here’s the longlist of the best albums of 2016!

EP’S OF THE YEAR

Before You Exit – All The Lights

Brilliant electropop album written, produced and performed by the McDonagh brothers. Think One Direction but with more talent.

Liss – First

Quirky Pop EP which borrows lots of electronic elements and 80’s pop-influenced production. Definitely a band to watch.

MUNA – Loudspeaker EP

This American band are going to be huge next year. The Loudspeaker EP is full of soaring and confident electropop with great lyrics and fantastic guitar-work.

The Japanese House – Swim Against The Tide

The 1975’s label mate Amber Bain, better known as The Japanese House delivered another great EP this year. This is arguably the best of her 3 EPs, with more engaging and uptempo material.

ALBUM TRACKS OF THE YEAR

Here’s a list of album tracks – songs that have missed out on true exposure as they haven’t been released as commercial singles – from albums released this year.

  • Alicia Keys – The Gospel, She Don’t Really Care_1 Luv
  • All Saints – One Woman Man, Who Hurt Who, Fear, Red Flag
  • Allie X – Never Enough
  • Barry Gibb – Grand Illusion, Star Crossed Lovers, Cross to Bear,
  • Birdy – Keeping Your Head Up
  • Bruno Mars – Perm, Versace on the Floor, Straight Up and Down, Too Good to say Goodbye
  • Busted – Night Driver, New York, Thinking of You, Without It, I Will Break Your Heart, Easy, Out of Our Minds, Those Days are Gone
  • Christine & The Queens – It, Science Fiction, Half Ladies, Night 52,
  • Craig David – Louder than Words, What If, No Holding Back
  • Drake – U With Me?, Feel No Ways, Summer’s Over Interlude,
  • Emeli Sande – Right Now, I’d Rather Not, Lonely
  • Frank Ocean – Nikes, Be Yourself, Solo, Self Control, Close To You, Seigfried, Godspeed
  • Gwen Stefani – You’re my favourite, Where Would I Be?, Truth,
  • Jack Garratt – Breathe Life, The Love You’re Given,
  • James Arthur – Safe Inside, Can I Be him, Sober, Let me love the lonely, Sermon, Phoenix
  • Kanye West – Waves, Ultralight Beam, Father Stretch My Hands Part 1, Real Friends, Frank’s Track, No More Parties in LA, Fade
  • Lady Gaga – A-YO, Joanne,
  • Liss – Sorry, Good Enough,
  • Little Mix – Nobody Like You, Nothing Else Matters
  • Melanie C – Dear Life, Anymore, Room for Love,
  • Michael Buble – I Believe In You
  • Nathan Sykes – Freedom, Twist,
  • Nick Jonas – Bacon
  • Olly Murs – Predictable, Deeper, 24hrs, Read My Mind, Better than Me,
  • Raleigh Ritchie – Werld is Mine, Never Better, Cowards, A Moor, Young & Stupid, The Last Romance
  • Rebecca Ferguson – Hold Me, The Way You’re Looking at her, Pay For It
  • Rick Astley – Let it be tonight, This old house,
  • Rihanna – Same ‘Ol Mistakes, Desperado, Close to You
  • Robbie Williams – Sensitive, David’s Song, Hotel Crazy
  • Ryan O’Shaughnessy – The News, Entertainment & Warmth, Hold Me Now, No Need to worry, Supermodel, Got this feeling, Waste another day
  • Shawn Mendes – Ruin, Patience
  • Shura – Kidz ‘N’ Stuff, What Happened To Us
  • The 1975 –She’s American, If I Believe You, Please Be Naked, Lostmyhead, I like it when you sleep…, This Must Be My Dream, Loving Someone, Paris, Nana
  • Tom Chaplin – The River, I Remember You, Hold Onto our Love, Solid Gold, See it so clear
  • Tom Odell – Here I am
  • Usher – Missin’ U, FWM, Need U
  • Wet – It’s all in vain, Don’t wanna be your girl, Island, All The Ways, Move Me
  • Zayn – It’s You, She, Drunk, Intermission: Flower, Truth

 

Music Monday – Volume Ninety Four

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1) Nathan Sykes & G-Eazy– Give It Up

Ex member of The Wanted, Nathan Sykes returns with another brilliant single from his upcoming début album. Featuring rapper G-Eazy, ‘Give It Up‘ is a huge, catchy R&B track with funky guitar riffs and slick production.

2) Alesso featuring Nico & Vinz– I Wanna Know

Swedish producer Alesso returns with this huge club track. Featuring vocals from African-Norwegian duo Nico and Vinz, (best known for their number one smash ‘Am I Wrong’) it’s a low-key, chilled-out approach to club music through its avoidance of loud synths, instead utilising wailing guitars in a similar fashion to Robin Schulz’ remix of Mr Probz’ ‘Waves‘.

3) The Last Shadow Puppets – Miracle Aligner

Brilliant psychedelic rock track, featuring baroque-pop and experimental rock influences by British super-group The Last Shadow Puppets. The chorus avoids making a big deal out of itself, yet is effortlessly catchy.

4) All Saints – One Woman Man

Another dramatic and massive pop track from All Saints. Taken from their new album ‘Red Flag’, luscious harmonies soar over orchestral riffs and thunderous percussion.

5) Bry – Don’t Go Alone

Irish Singer-Songwriter/YouTube blogger Bry releases this euphoric pop-rock track, the first single from his début album.

6) Chelsea Lankes – Secret

Brilliant electro-pop track from Texas musician Chelsea Lankes. Sugary, almost-whispered vocals over distorted guitar riffs evolve into an infectiously catchy chorus.

7) Raye – Distraction

South-London singer-songwriter Raye returns with this massive R&B track comprised of electro-elements, hip-hop beats and sweeping strings. Both the track and her vocals are often reminiscent of Rihanna at her best.

8) Michael Franti & Spearhead– Crazy For You

Soulful and uplifting track comprised of funky guitar riffs and plenty of brass instrumentation. Brilliantly catchy.

9) Ben Watt – Fever Dream

Gentle and relaxing acoustic-based track by English singer-songwriter Ben Watt. Released ahead of his upcoming album with the same title, it is a collaboration with fellow musician Bernard Butler.

10) KAYTRANADA & Anderson Paak – Glowed Up

Canadian music producer Kaytranada teams up with Californian singer and rapper Anderson Paak on this alternative R&B/neo soul fusion. Utilising hip-hop and soul, it’s a chilled out track with a retro vibe.

Feel-Good Friday

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Every Friday, we are adding three tracks to our Feel-Good Friday Spotify playlist. The aim? To create a definitive playlist featuring the best uplifting, feel-good tracks in the world!

Check here every Friday to check any additions!

FOLLOW the Music Box to never miss an update again.

Raleigh Ritchie – You’re a Man Now, Boy Album Review

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If you aren’t already familiar with Raleigh Ritchie (real name Jacob Anderson) in terms of music, chances are you’ll have encountered him as an actor. He has developed a name for himself starring in various high-profile roles over the last four years including Omen in the film Adulthood, Grey Worm in Game of Thrones and Dean Thomas in Broadchurch. He is now in the process of building a whole new side-career for himself as a singer-songwriter, set off to a promising start by single ‘Stronger than Ever‘ which has become something of a staple as dramatic background music on reality television in addition to receiving much airplay on the likes of Radio 1.

‘This is no p***-take’, sings Anderson on ‘Never Been Better‘. Indeed, ‘You’re a Man Now, Boy’ is a determined and well-crafted album which avoids filler album tracks, resulting in an intriguing album from start to finish. It’s an album which explores the pertinent and stimulating themes of confusion, depression and vulnerability through the on-trend genre of alternative R&B. Threaded together by sweeping strings, brass instruments, simmering synthesisers and fierce live percussion, it’s dramatic, bold and powerful, delving into elements of  R&B, Soul, electronica and hip-hop.

The likes of ‘Stronger than Ever‘, ‘Bloodsport‘ and ‘Never Been Better‘ are explosive and emotive works which showcase Anderson at his best, featuring thunderous percussion and sweeping strings not dissimilar from Massive Attack’s ‘Unfinished Symphony‘. They are bold and soulful, breaking out from the norm yet remaining contemporary.

Elsewhere, the album possesses a lighter tone which punctuates the album nicely. Quirky and de-tuned synthesisers skip playfully on ‘The Greatest‘ and ‘A Moor‘ whilst Anderson’s love of hip-hop is evident on ‘Cowards‘, a buoyant track abundant with frolicking samples, programmed percussion and a gorgeous neo-soul middle-eight. Likewise ‘Young & Stupid‘ addresses the naivety and recklessness of youth through lyrics such as “I’ll be a star, I’ll be the boy who lived, Taking my car and driving it off the bridge” over hip-hop piano riffs. Then there’s the catchy dance-R&B of ‘Keep It Simple‘, a breezy collaboration with grime act Stormzy which provides some much-needed light relief.

The album is closed perfectly with the tender ‘The Last Romance‘, a mellow R&B ballad which documents an ‘us against the world’ relationship over driving, barely audible percussion, soulful layered vocals and gliding keyboards.

Anderson’s vocals aren’t necessarily the most powerful, yet they are a perfect match for the rich and luscious soundscapes featured here and at times are blissfully soulful.

As the album comes to a close, it is evident that the album is worth far more than its #32 position in the UK album chart. It may not be perfect, but it’s sturdy, compelling and fantastically-written, addressing powerful themes through contemporary alternative-R&B. Most importantly, it is an album with soul and a personality – a rare feat in today’s music.

Rating: 4/5.
Highlights: Stronger than Ever, Bloodsport, Keep it Simple, Never Been Better, Cowards, The Last Romance.

‘You’re a Man Now, Boy’ is available now on Columbia Records.

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

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Almost three long years have passed since The 1975 sprung onto the music scene with their bold and well-received eponymous début album. Packaged with an aesthetic monochrome image, an abundance of 80’s influenced alt-rock, asymmetrical R&B and an ostentatious yet simultaneously endearing frontman – Matt Healy – The 1975 polarised critics and music lovers alike. Still, the band’s début album catapulted straight into number one in the UK album chart, their eclectic sound and unequivocal lyrics winning them a legion of fans all over the world.

The follow up to a platinum selling album was always going to arrive with weighted expectations but Healy’s recurrent boasting in interviews (‘The world needs this album’, he informed NME, prior to its release in self-praise Kanye West would be proud of) and a wealth of preceding publicity made ‘I like it when you sleep…’ one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. From its ambitiously wordy title and hefty seventy five minute duration to its frequent genre-hopping, it’s an audacious album but one which ultimately pays off.

For their follow-up, the monochrome façade is replaced with a vivid pink, a sign of the band’s reinvention and their musical evolution. Lyrically, ‘I like it when you sleep…’ possesses a darker tone than its predecessor. Whilst the drug and sex references are still frequent, the rock and roll is less so. Understandably, the band have matured significantly since their previous work was written and this shows through its exploration of darker themes such as mental health, depression, death and loneliness. The album’s tone is far from melancholic, however as it is comprised of various genres, making it a compelling listen.

The 80’s-influenced indie rock present on their début extends onto ‘I like it when you sleep…’, channelling the flamboyance of the likes of INXS and Duran Duran but with far greater polished production. From the buoyant Bowie-esque ‘Love Me‘ with its squeaky synthesisers and quirky guitar riffs to the gentle ‘Change of Heart‘ with its synthetic vocal fragments and synthesisers fluttering over soft 808 percussion, The 1975 once again capture the brashness of 80’s music but with a 21st century spin. There’s also the brilliantly effervescent ‘She’s American‘ which wittily documents cultural differences with lyrics such as ‘And if she likes it ’cause we just don’t eat and we’re socially relevant, she’s American’ over twinkling synthesisers and funky guitar riffs provided by guitarist Adam Hann. The band’s musicianship and synchronicity are accentuated through the new-jack swing of ‘This Must Be My Dream‘ with its gospel melodies, silky vocals, slamming percussion, driving bass lines and snarling guitar riffs. The moody ‘Somebody Else‘ is aching with vulnerability and finds Healy pining for an ex-lover over swirling synths, a brilliant twitchy bassline provided by bassist Ross Macdonald and gated percussion. It also has the best bridge on the album on which Healy growls “Got someone you love? Get someone you need? F**k that get money, I can’t give you my soul ’cause we’re never alone” over juddering production. This is about as far as the John Hughes soundtrack alternatives go on this album however.

The rest of the album is a testament to the band’s love of genre hopping, generating an album which isn’t musically cohesive but its content is of a quality that compensates for this, enabling fans to dip in and out as they please. They explore Prince-influenced R&B on the slick ‘UGH!‘, shoegazing through the angst of ‘Lostmyhead‘ and pop-disco on the fantastically catchy ‘The Sound‘. ‘The Ballad of Me and My Brain‘ flirts with grunge stadium rock featuring fantastically erratic drums from George Daniel and broken vocal fragments. Its playful lyrics tell of Healy’s quest to find his brain (likely in reference to a meltdown whilst on tour in 2014) searching in bars, on the train and in Sainsbury’s whilst sneakily making a reference to 2007 meltdown-Britney at the end.

Then there’s ‘Loving Someone‘ in which Healy does his best impersonation of Mike Skinner – half-rapping his social observations of how the media and celebrity culture shapes teenagers over hip-hop beats and clinking piano riffs. Lyrically, it’s one of Healy’s best, with lines such as ‘It’s better if we make them want the opposite sex’ and ‘I’m the Greek economy of cashing intellectual cheques’ emphasising his pensive nature and ability to give his music meaning – a rare occurrence in contemporary music.

The band throw a curve-ball on the biblical ‘If I Believe You‘ on which Healy searches for and beseeches a higher power to curb his loneliness. Perhaps the album’s best moment, it’s a sincere and dignified track which mirrors the likes of Prince and D’Angelo through layering eerie electronic elements, an understated horn solo and spine-tingling utilisation of a gospel choir over organic percussion. Its lyrical content is a paradox of its jazz-influenced gospel instrumentation but it works absolutely beautifully with a stunning climax where Healy’s effect-drenched vocals languish ‘If I’m lost, then how can I find myself?’

Elsewhere, the glossy, polished Pop records are punctuated by less commercial ambient music through glitchy instrumentals comprised of fragmented sounds, broken vocal samples and heavily processed electro elements in a similar fashion the band’s first EPs. ‘Please Be Naked‘ is a stunning piano-led instrumental evidently influenced by sigur rós and is a sign of what’s to follow on ‘Lostmyhead‘. The band excel at this most on the title track, ‘I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it‘, however. Pretty and melodic piano particles flutter over driving electronica whilst Healy’s lusciously layered vocals beg his lover not to leave. The track is lengthy at six minutes but is split into two parts, evolving into an uplifting and exquisitely beautiful house track. It’s likely to be the most overlooked track on the album but is a perfect reminder of Healy and Daniel’s impeccable ability to create and produce music.

The album begins to decelerate towards the end beginning with the mellow electropop of ‘Paris‘, a drug-fuelled interpretation of Yazoo’s ‘Only You‘ featuring sparse guitars and dizzy synthesisers. It’s another of the album’s highlights with a catchy, honeyed ‘again and again’ refrain. The final two tracks are stripped to the bare minimum and driven by an acoustic guitar,  ‘Nana‘ being a heartbreaking ode to Healy’s late grandparent and ‘She Lays Down‘ documenting his mother’s (TV personality and actress Denise Welch) battle with post-natal depression. It may not be the most uplifting finale to the album but its de-acceleration brings it to a perfect, gentle close.

One of the album’s fortes and its main source of cohesion is its lyrical content. Healy possesses a genuine talent as a lyricist, addressing heavy topics and destructive individuals in a playful, frank and witty manner and accurately addresses contemporary culture in candid fashion. He’s also a master of self-deprecation, whether its through labelling himself as ‘a sycophantic, prophetic, Socratic junkie wannabe’ on ‘The Sound‘ or as ‘a pain in woman’s clothes’ on ‘Paris‘. Even more impressive is his use of intertextuality through referencing and recycling the band’s previous lyrics and melodies.

It’s easy for ‘genuine music lovers’ to brand the band as a generic, derivative boyband who only appeal to teenage girls but one listen to ‘I like it when you sleep…’ is enough to dispel these criticisms. The musicality, the polysemic threads and comprehensive nature of the album proves The 1975 are the band of the moment. As Healy lashed out against uninspired Pop music last Autumn, he ranted “No one’s asking you to inspire a revolution, but inspire something.” And that’s exactly what ‘I like it when you sleep…’ does from beginning to end.

An extraordinary album which pushes the boundaries through experimentation, sharp lyrics and unashamedly brilliant Pop music.

  • Rating: 5/5.
  • Highlights: ‘She’s American‘, ‘If I Believe You‘, ‘Somebody Else‘, ‘Loving Someone‘, ‘The Sound‘, ‘This Must Be My Dream‘, ‘Paris‘.

‘I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it’ is available now on Dirty Hit/Polydor records.

January Mixtape

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After adapting Music Monday to make it strictly about current and new music, we realised that there was no way to draw focus to older music on this blog. So we have decided to publish a mixtape (or Spotify Playlist) of 20 songs on the first day of every month.

This makes January’s rather late but with no further ado, here’s the Music Box’s January Mixtape: