The pain of living in 2018: a review of the 1975's 'A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships'

It's not the album we deserve, but it's the album we need...

I've loved watching The 1975 grow. They captured all my angst and wanderlust with their self titled album, made me feel with I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, and now dare me to better myself and the world with A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships.

Every song on this album has a message or warning about the current digital age we're living in. "TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME" tells the story of a toxic relationship in the world of social media, while "Love If We Made It" showcases both the most vile parts of the era and the promise of change.

It's no secret Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram has allowed insecurity and envy to fester. This is the basis of "Sincerity is Scary". Here, the band pleads for us to just be real - not only with each other, but with ourselves as well.

I think the pinnacle of ABIIOR comes with a song that doesn't feature any humans. "The Man Who Married A Robot / Love Theme" is narrated by Siri and tells the story of a man who (as you can guess) falls in love with the internet. It bleeds with themes of loneliness and disassociation. The part that tore my heart apart is the end: The man dies alone and the only thing left behind is his Facebook.

Other topics are explored throughout the album. "I Like America & America Like Me" tackles gun violence, as "Be My Mistake" takes on the guilt of growing up and changing while in a relationship. Like with I like it when you sleep's "UGH!", "It's Not Living (If It's Not With You)" is about Matty's struggle with heroin. This is the song that makes me feel the most conflicted. I can't help but dance to the upbeat tone and signing, but then I get instantly bummed when I remember the meaning.

One of my favorite songs on the album is "I Couldn't Be More In Love". It's equal parts tragedy and beauty. Matty lays everything out vocally and we can certainly tell. The vocalist said the song was made right before he went to rehab, allowing him to sing like he's never done before.

"It’s because I struggle to sing like that. Some people can just sing and it’s the most natural thing in the world to them. But in order for me to get people to believe me, I have to really, really try. Those vocals were actually from the day before I went to rehab. To be fair, I sang it better when I got out, but there was just something in those vocals. It was kind of guttural. I was really upset and scared. I feel like there’s a hopelessness in the vocal performance," said Matty Healy, Pitchfork.

ABIIOR comes to a head with the ending track "I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)". Every aspect of loneliness and depression hinted on throughout the album is fully explored with a performance worthy of the best 90's alternative-rock ballad.

IN THE END...

A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships is the best musical depiction of 2018. Our dependence on technology and social media has left us lacking - emotionally and morally. The 1975 puts vocals and lyrics to our insecurities, and never lets us catch a breath. I have listened to this album at least 10 times since it came out and every listen unlocks another nugget of wisdom I overlooked before. I think this is the best and most raw I have ever heard Matty be and I appreciate all of his honesty.

10 Siri narrations out of 10.