The 1975 and Bastille

Today I have some darker and more melancholy music for you by the band The 1975. Now when I think of these guys, everything I imagine is on this grey scale. There is something about their music that ranges between black and white, with the blurred lines of grey in between. Maybe it's because of their debut album, maybe it's because of their musical content. Either way, this is a band that lives for those grey lines. This is a band that is not afraid to talk about what happens in those blurred lines, what it feels like to be a shade of grey rather than black or white. I appreciate that so much. A lot of popular music today lacks depth and emotional capacity. But The 1975 purposefully and thoroughly explores emotions and sensations and desires and guilty pleasures. The 1975 is a band that relishes in writing lyrics about things that are considered taboo, things that people don't really want to address. That is what makes this band so great. Musically, they are phenomenal as well! But it is that desire to discuss "uncharted territory" with the lyrics which makes the band stand out to me. The lyrics make this a very emotionally charged track. This is a song that highlights self obsession and isolation after a hard break up. Break up songs that discuss being sad and alone are normal. However, talking about isolation and the downwards spiral that can turn into self obsession is something entirely new and different. We are seeing a side of life that many of us would rather ignore or deny. But having The 1975 talk about it in their music is something that opens things up. It is something we secretly connect to. This song is all about the chink in the armor that we attempt to wear after a heart break. This crisp ballad has a smoother musicality and electronic vibe to it. There is a mellow and chilled atmosphere to the song, giving it a more raw sound. This song is like going back to the roots for The 1975. We get the signature dip into synth pop and the darker sounds. Their latest album features a lot more upbeat and catchy choruses. However, this melancholy piece is reminiscent of the original style. This is a song that gets the greyscale sound. And that makes it such a highlight for the album. It is a break in the continuous upbeat flow, a reminder that we can't always be at a high point. The combination of indie rock, pop, electronic melodies, and even a little R&B, create a song that is perfectly smooth and unblemished. This is a song that is weirdly haunting and comforting at the same time. It is a song that gets us lost in a dreamscape and has its own charm and appeal. The 1975's sophomore album was one of the biggest surprises in music for 2016. The sounds are completely new and different, the album being one that we get emotionally invested in. Today's instrumental song is by another band that teds to dabble in the darker ambiance of music. Bastille is a band that really took off with their first lead single, and they are back again with a new album as well! This album is actually not as dark as their debut either, but something about it still carries the weight of that darkness. But this is why I wanted to pull a song from the debut album. Because this album is drenched in the same melancholy and dark that The 1975's song is all about. This is definitely an emotional and moving song, and even without the lyrics it is a beautiful masterpiece. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!