English Alternative-Pop band The 1975, released their fifth studio album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language on Oct. 14. The band has produced hits like Chocolate, Somebody Else, and The Sound, and these new songs don’t fall short of dominating the charts. The album is currently ranking in the Billboard Top 200 chart. The easy listening, 80’s influence, brass instruments, and semi-shoegaze sounds of the tracks stand out amongst many modern records. 

The first track of the album is titled The 1975, which is a recurring title and opener for all of their albums. This version has a dreamy piano build-up that fades into the second track. It’s one of my favorites, and I think this was the perfect way to set the mood for what’s to come. 

As the album continues, songs like Happiness, Looking For Somebody (To Love), and  Oh Caroline, provide more of an upbeat energy with catchy riffs and synths. A stand-out song for me is “Part of the Band.” The lyrics to this song have the message that sometimes living in our imaginations is more idyllic than facing reality. I also think the production of the song was really clean and simple, yet complex with the full brass/percussion/string band that closes it out. Frontman Matt Healy’s vocals shine in the songs All I Need to Hear and Human Too, with the more stripped-down, raw, semi-acoustic approach.  

Fans have been receiving this album fairly well. The tenth track, “About You” is having a moment on TikTik right now, which is introducing the album and the band itself to new listeners. “Being Funny In A Foreign Language is the capstone of the band’s career thus far: it combines their debut album’s carefree attitude, the showstopping glam pop of I Like It When You Sleep, the heart-warming ballads of A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships and the comedic moments from Notes. Confident in their ability to make a stellar album, Being Funny In A Foreign Language sees the band embrace what it means to be The 1975 at their very best,” said album reviewer Sophie Flint Vázquez.

As a longtime listener of the band, I think the album was very fitting to their sounds from the past but felt different enough that it didn’t sound entirely like their other songs. Being Funny In a Foreign Language is extremely cohesive both musically and lyrically. I enjoyed the moments of comedy, light-hearted lyrics about love, and the chaos of growing up. That being said, it’s not my favorite from them. Their debut album The 1975 and A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships featured more diverse ideas and topics, and for that, I find it more compelling as a listener. Nonetheless, I think this album will go down as a classic for modern pop. 

Check out the album here: Being Funny In A Foreign Language