10 Rock Bands That Completely Avoided The Sophomore Slump
9. I Like It When You Sleep... - The 1975
You don't really get albums like the 1975's debut out in the wild anymore. Compared to the more overindulgent track listings you find on most pop-centric releases, the concise timing and amazing flow from these English pop rockers was so tight that virtually any song could be liable to be a single. Though that winning formula could have worked all over again, I Like It When You Sleep... showed some more sonic vignettes going on underneath the surface.
As opposed to the traditional pop rock sounds of their debut, this record plays around with a lot of '80s pastiches, with Love Me opening up with what could be a relic from an old INXS tune. Don't let that fool you into thinking this is just a throwback affair, with the lyrics being a dissection of Matt Healy's outlook on his own fame and relationship struggles, whether it be the dissolving of a romantic affair on Change of Heart or the complicated views on religion on If I Believe You.
There are also some wild left turns in the track listing, with songs that toe the line between soul, rock, and even bits of shoegaze to create one of the most eclectic musical stews they have ever made. Considering most pop rock acts don't really get too far past their debut, this was proof that the 1975 are a band worth paying attention to past the one or two songs you throw on your playlist.