Fans of The 1975 have been restlessly waiting for a new music release since Oct. of 2022, when their album Being Funny In A Foreign Language dropped worldwide. This past Friday, the band reemerged into the public eye by releasing a live recording of their most recent sold out tour titled The 1975: Still…At Their Very Best, from their hometown of Manchester at the AO Arena. The album is now available to stream through services including Spotify and Apple Music.
The setlist opens with a song titled “The 1975,” named after the group. The song dives into the hardships of having to live as a 17 year old in today’s society. In comparison to the studio version, the live version of the song is condensed into just two minutes and the powerful instrumentals can still be enjoyed even through the screaming crowd.
Breaking up the setlist is their most popular song, “About You,” which has an impressive count of 560 million streams on Spotify. The song consists of a slower rhythm compared to the majority of their music, which usually relies on the vibrations of the electric guitar. “About You” tells the story of lead singer Matty Healy and his repetitive thoughts of trying to hold on to every detail about the woman he onced loved, even as time moves on. Listeners become encapsulated by the picture the song is able to paint, and being able to stream the live version allows fans to truly understand each and every lyric.
The setlist also includes the band’s hits titled “Somebody Else,” “Robbers,” and “Chocolate,” ranging from the sounds of soft rock to indie pop. The 1975’s ability to range from various genres and vocals ensures that listeners will never get tired of their music, whether they want to enjoy it in concert or get the same vibe streaming it from home.
Looking at the album cover for the band’s live version, listeners can see a cozy white house surrounded by dark green bushes, which stand out against the gray sky of the countryside of England. This cover captures the quiet hometown of each band member, further showing that anyone can work their way to fame, even four young men from the quiet corners of Manchester.
To wrap up their 29 song setlist, the band finishes with their song “People,” which is their most heavy metal song by far. The song features Healy screaming into the microphone about the disastrous state of the world, continuously referencing politics. While mildly controversial, the live version of this song emphasizes the intensity, leaving listeners with heads buzzing and spirits lifted.
Fans of The 1975 hope that the band’s release of this live album is a hint that they are ready to reintroduce themselves to the public and drop brand new music within the next few months.
