“People” – The 1975
The 1975 is on a mission to prove that genre is dead, and with their latest single “People,” the band furthers their goal by bringing a full-on punk-influenced song to their discography.
Taking an extreme departure from the jazz and pop-based sounds of their previous album, “People” is guitar-heavy with lead singer Matty Healy practically screaming the politically-driven lyrics. The song echoes a similar political perspective as the first single from the band’s upcoming album Notes on a Conditional Form, which was self-titled and had environmental activist Greta Thunberg reciting a monologue that discusses climate change and the world’s inaction regarding the issue.
The second verse is Healy’s most pointed and blunt address to his frustrations with the way the world is living in ignorant bliss: The frontman yells, “Wake up, wake up, wake up / We are appalling and we need to stop just watching shit in bed / And I know it sounds boring and we like things that are funny / But we need to get this in our f—king heads / The economy’s a goner, republic’s a banana, ignore it if you wanna.” “People” serves as the band’s latest call to action, and follows the lofty success of the band’s last ultra-political track “Love It If We Made It.”
The 1975 proves itself to be a rock band that doesn’t cower at the risk of experimentation. With “People,” it revives the harsh sounds of old punk bands like the Sex Pistols and The Ramones, as well as modern garage rock bands such as FIDLAR.
Whatever you may think about The 1975’s new sound on “People,” one thing is for sure: The group’s unwillingness to stay boxed into one specific genre and their unwavering determination to try out different sounds and change it up frequently is admirable.
“British Bombs” – Declan McKenna
“British Bombs,” Declan McKenna’s first single since his debut album, clearly exudes a more rock-like sound than his previous songs, such as the indie jam “Brazil.” Never one to shy away from addressing political matters in his songs, the lyrics of “British Bombs” have a clear anti-war message. The fast-paced energy of the song reflects the tone of the lyrics, with McKenna chanting the chorus in a rollicking way. This deceivingly upbeat song has McKenna voicing his frustration with how the UK seems to constantly be at war, as he closes the bridge with, “Get real, kid, your country’s been at war since birth now.” This single is an exemplary showing for McKenna, and perhaps an indication of a new style moving forward.
Featured Image by Interscope Records
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