The 1975 - Notes on a Conditional Form (May 22, 2020) Album • Page 300

Yeah I keep seeing a lot of polarizing takes around the Internet, or just reviews saying that it's polarizing, and to that, I have to say "ok... good!"

Haven't listened to this yet, to clarify... all I know is that this thread has been getting me excited to dive in.

 

I’ve come to the conclusion that Frail State Of Mind represents the album as a whole better than not only every other single released beforehand, but also any other track on the record.

 

After a day with it, it’s the least impressed I’ve been with a release of theirs right away.

I wish they would have either committed to more weirdness in the musical elements, cause a lot of it becomes far too repetitive (not only in the songs themselves but with each other), or committed to being more catchy cause it’s missing hooks and replacing it with meandering moments that never resolve. Neither quite strong enough. It’s good, for sure, but has some huge misses as well and the length didn’t do themselves any favors. There’s been better straight up great pop albums released this year already, and better and more interesting electronic experimentation music as well, the band has usually been at their best when they mirror these two sides of themselves into something creative and new. This spins its wheels a little too much. The highs are high, but there’s also a whole lot that never goes anywhere, says anything, or simply repeats itself without crescendoing.

Gonna enjoy a few weeks with this for sure, but it definitely didn’t dominate me like I was hoping after “People” and it’s not as interesting to me as albums from Dua, Lauv, Charli, Rina, and quite a few others so far this year.

 

This is what I want to hear!

 

ABIIOR was an abstract 1975 that still had training wheels on. For Notes, they just said fuck it.

 

I encourage everyone to put ABIIOR and NOACF on a playlist and listening to it all together and think of it as one piece. It really works.

 

This is where I’m at as well

 

I would be surprised if you found all 22 tracks essential. So I get the criticism, and definitely prefer ABIIOR as an album, but there’s something very exciting about a band over serving you with tracks. Showing us everything they have going on in terms of influence and creative ideas. The songs on this record are messy and meandering, sure, but that’s like... the point of the record. It’s a collection of works on what it means to be human in an ever changing environment. They’re notes on a conditional form.

We can pretty fairly take out of the equation any doubt that Matty and co aren’t aware the record is long as hell and not very stylistically concise. Naturally, this isn’t going to click with everyone, but if you respect what they are trying to do, it’s a fun experience.

 

Yeah see ya in 2025 when I’m done

 

ABIIOR is still my favorite, but I haven’t listened since Notes. I did listen right beforehand for the listening party last Friday. Right now, I don’t really feel like they go all that well together. Or not as well as maybe Matty planned for the “Music For Cars” era. Would love to hear more about what connects for you.

 

thank you rome gomez for "Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy"

as a pinoy that loves the temptations I have no choice but to love that song

 

I...don’t think this is that “weird”. I don’t think this is pushing boundaries like everyone says it is. I feel like outside of People, most of these sounds were hit on previous records. They’re just longer here

 

I think the beauty of a 22 song album is you can hate basically half of it and you still have a regular album’s worth of great songs

 

Okay. I finished my second full listen through. I don't really think it is as abstract or "weird" as people are saying. ABI felt way more abstract to me. But as someone who didn't listen to any of the pre-release singles, I really am loving this. MAYTG - Too Shy is up there with the best stuff they've ever done. Not all of it really hits for me. Then Because She Goes doesn't do much for me right now, but I am really loving this overall.

I don't really agree with people saying some of it goes nowhere. Aside from Then Because She Goes, I am not seeing what that really means here.

As an aside. What Should I Say is really doing it for me after not clicking at first.

 

Damn, beat me to it.

 

Like Jason said, I wish they went all in on the hooks or poppy side. This band can churn out some fucking bangers in addition to pushing the boundaries of their sound, often times in the same song. I feel like this leans too heavily into the footwork/electronic side which...fine, I guess, but this isn’t the band I’m going to for underground dance music lol

 

really happy with the album overall but I'm probably most stoked on being able to listen to too shy more often, I tried really hard to not burn myself out on it before the full album dropped. Also really liking then because she goes and i think there's something you should know.

 

Disagree. Where did they emulate Jamaican dance hall (Shiny Collarbone) or honky-tonk (Roadkill) before? Maybe they’ve hinted at it, but this record is not just longer, it’s far more indulgent. Unhinged.

 

Yeah that’s where I’m at as well, for example I think the last Japanese House album has more “weird” instrumental parts, shit that feels very Alvin Lucier at times. Some of these beats end up repetitive, but in not as interesting or as emotional of a way imo. Less resolve, more meandering, like someone forgot they looped it and let it play too long.

 

He’s not saying within the context of the bands discography. He’s said it’s generally not weird or interesting outside of that

 

Strong The Social Network vibes with 'having no head'

 

Tootime for the former

 

yeah I don't understand that take either - the first two tracks on this are probably the "weirdest" moments but that's about it.

 

But that’s the point. That’s what they were going for.

 

What I am really liking the most about this record is that it truly feels like a massive rock/pop band reversed trajectory and made an album that really feels like some teenagers in a bedroom. I love that I can just tell what they are into. It feels very much like friends just having fun and making music. ABI was more of a "statement" I suppose, but this feels more 'light' and that is just working for me right now.