-
The 1975, “Being Funny in a Foreign Language” (released on Oct. 14)
The lead singer Matty Healy of popular British band The 1975 is known for his controversial lyrics that tend to name-drop divisive people; namely former President Donald Trump and hip-hop rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
Because of that political inclination, the band paints a stunning picture of the current zeitgeist.
They are great at being excessive but also minimal. They are aware of this duality and are sincere and sarcastic at the same time.
Their lyrics tend to contrast with their upbeat sound. Ever since their 2013 self-titled debut album, the band has been slowly embracing jazz.
Their sound has always been groovy but their latest album sees them fully leaning into jazz and funk, but a more mellow version.
Every aspect of “Being Funny in a Foreign Language” is much more dimmed down.
If their 2018 album “A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships” was The 1975 throwing a lavish party, their latest album feels like an intimate afterparty: moody lighting and meaningful conversations.
There is still plenty of groove and excess, especially in catchy songs such as “I’m in Love With You,” but it’s more genuine compared to anything they’ve released.
On the title track, Healy apologizes to this generation by singing “I'm sorry if you're livin' and you're 17.”
It can be fun for this younger generation to live in the loudness of social media and the constant barrage of connections but The 1975 knows that after a while, you just need a moment to yourself.
-
Blink-182’s new single “Edging” (released on Oct. 14)
Pop-punk has always garnered a largely young and angsty audience.
Since Blink-182’s 1994 debut album “Buddha,” they have been at the forefront of the movement.
Their spiked hair, obnoxious tattoos and loud voices expressed teenage angst in the most alluring way.
This year, those same pop-punk fans have grown up and so has Blink-182.
“Edging” is their latest single in seven years that features the original band members.
It brings back some of those same heavy guitars and “edgy” lyrics that kids in the late ’90s and early 2000s used to listen to on their CD players.
Lead singer and guitarist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker are both 46. Bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus is 50. So why are a bunch of 40-to-50 year olds still making pop-punk music?
Their kids are closer to being punk “age” than them at this point.
But since the beginning of the genre, pop punk has never been about being serious. It has always been about taking the piss out of life to the sound of heavy guitars.
Blink-182 has not grown up. Their promotional video for their upcoming album, featuring all three original bandmates, is a parody.
A bunch of strangers talk about how they can’t wait for Blink-182 to “cum.”
Growing up isn’t fun and Blink-182 understands that. So why not stay young for as long as you can?
-
Album of the week: “Surrender” by Maggie Rogers (released July 29)
I was visiting New York City for the first time in years when I first heard Maggie Rogers’ “Surrender.”
Her energetic songs became the soundtrack of my trip.
“Be Cool” was playing while I was riding the subway to the quaint neighborhood of Chelsea, located in Manhattan. I rode the bus into New York while blasting “Overdrive” as towering buildings came into view.
Rogers’ second album illuminates her finding of freedom.
Her 2019 debut album “Heard It in a Past Life” showed glimpses of Rogers embracing a more electronic-heavy sound but still had a healthy dose of sparse instrumentation.
In “Surrender,” Rogers has dropped all inhibitions. The record features her rocky vocals mixed with her lively, dream-pop inspired production.
In 2016, a researcher Tiffany Watt Smith wrote about the unknown emotion of ilinx, which she describes as “the ‘strange excitement’ of wanton destruction,” according to a June 15, 2016 article by The Cut.
“Surrender” feels that way. Rogers doesn’t want you to think– just do!
On “Shatter,” Rogers sings “I could break a glass just to watch it shatter / I'd do anything just to feel with you.”
“Surrender” is a visceral record, one that will make you dance, feel and maybe break something.
