Here are 10 essential songs by the 1975
Since the quiet release of their first EP, Facedown, almost exactly five years ago, the 1975 have skyrocketed to one of the most emphatic bands in the world. Their fervent fanbase has latched onto the band’s shapeshifting style and triumphant story: four high school friends who, after years playing together, unveiled a debut album that would make them the chart-topping MSG headliners they are today.
As the third—and final—installment in the 1975’s album trilogy starts, we’ve outlined their 10 essential, officially released* tracks.
*This list is restricted to officially released songs from the band’s four EPs and two albums, not taking into account older material, particularly what came out under their previous names, such as Drive Like I Do, Big Sleep, etc. (In other words, “Ghosts” is an awesome song.)
Read more: Here are five videos of the 1975 before they were the band you know today
1. “Antichrist”
There’s always one song—one old song from the back catalog—that die-hard fans scream for at shows. “Antichrist” is that song for the 1975, a cornerstone in their EP quartet. The lyrics read like a poem, complete with an eerie video that manifests the track’s grave tone.
2. “You”
“You” displays the band’s musicianship. It starts slow and builds to a momentous conclusion full of vulnerable lyrics, making the tropey “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to” sound like the most profound set of 10 words ever composed in a song. Plus, the crisp, two-minute “Milk” is hidden at the end of “You” like a sweet dessert.
3. “So Far (It’s Alright)”
“Underrated” doesn’t even begin to describe how good “So Far (It’s Alright)” is—it truly embodies the 1975. A bridge between the band’s set of EPs, first album and second album, the lyrics address drugs and relationships and family and boredom in an almost sarcastically sugar-coated and easy-to-sing-along chorus that laments everything’s “alright.”
4. “Sex”
“Sex” is the 1975’s true rock song—while the lyrics tell a story of unreciprocated affection, the seething guitars call for incessant headbanging, almost always ending the four-piece’s live set in a sea of flashing lights. Originally championed on British radio by Zane Lowe, “Sex” comes from the 1975’s 2012 EP of the same name, although it existed in the band’s catalog way before that.
5. “Robbers”
A stunning love song that went through a couple stylistic iterations, “Robbers” stands out in the 1975’s discography for its powerful vocals and Bonnie and Clyde-inspired lyrics. I’ve seen it bring fans to tears and bring the entirety of MSG together in a collective singalong, belting out the emotional bridge: “Babe, you look so cool.”
6. “Heart Out”
There’s a reason why “Heart Out” is still a mainstay in the 1975’s set: It’s an earworm, with a chorus, beat and saxophone solo that stay with you for days—a clear representation of the band’s ability to make a damn good song.
Read more: 11 times bands invited kids on stage, and it was the cutest
7. “The 1975”
The 1975 began their self-titled debut and their sophomore epic with an anthemic and chilling track as big as the band themselves—and it’s a brilliant move. “The 1975” is tweaked between albums, matching their respective sound and setting up each record to be not just a listen, but a listening experience.
8. “Love Me”
In the wake of their debut album’s success, the 1975 went dark to craft a follow-up. They turned the light back on with “Love Me,” a painfully self-aware response to fame and celebrity and internet culture. It was loud and pink and a massive moment for the band—a clear separation from their previously austere black-and-white look.
9. “If I Believe”
“If I Believe” is a discussion of lead singer Matty Healy’s atheism, a delicate and introspective testament to the band’s willingness to pen haunting lyrics that speak to the listener closely.
10. “Loving Someone”
When the 1975 won Best British Band at the 2017 Brit Awards, Healy said during the acceptance speech: “A lot of the time, people in pop music are told, ‘stay in your lane when it comes to talking about social issues.’f you have a platform, please don’t do that.” With “Loving Someone,” the 1975 didn’t do that. The catchy-as-hell track has morphed into the band’s pinnacle political statement, supporting the LGBTQ+ movement with a beautiful rainbow backdrop onstage.
Which the 1975 song is your favorite?
