With the release of their newest (and fourth) EP, IV, The 1975 brings their British-infused sound back to the limelight. Mixing tracks from mulitple previous EPs, IV showcases the pop-insipred riffs, pitched vocals, and incredible range of the group. Paralleling the style is a range of deep lyricism, combining deceptively simple phrases with hidden meanings. Here are Rap Genius' Top 10 lines from The 1975's IV.
5. "Chocolate"
"Now we run way from the boys in the blue/
And my car smells like chocolate"
Playing on an extended Bonnie and Clyde theme, the band tells the story of a crime spree surrounding the well-known "chocolate": weed. Here, the pair first run from the police, who note the cloud of smoke and deep, characteristic smell of marijuana trailing from their car. From here, they go on a ride, dressed in "black from head to toe" and hiding guns. Perhaps weed really is a gateway drug.
4. "The City"
"Don't call it a fight when you know it's a war"
Sometimes, the smallest of things can be in reality major hurdles. When we approcah even tiny arguments, we often know beforehand the things that will cause significant issues and hide from them. The result is war, a complete breakdown of conversation and relations to primal disagreement. Instead of hiding from this universal truth, it is much easier to just accept that battle to come and approach the war with open arms.
3. "You"
"And you're alive/
As far as I can tell, you are"
Ever met someone so comotose that you can hardly even tell if they are living or dead? We all know that person, seemingly interesting, who acts live a stone whenever things get hard or different. For The 1975, their experience with the mysterious "you" is no different; the girl spends her time existing, but hardly showing a unique, living personality. Even a little bit of vitality goes a long way - take notes.
2. "Sex"
"Now we're on the bed in my room/
And I'm about to fill his shoes/
But you say no"
In "Sex," the singer experiences a girl simultaneously trying to escape an unsatisfyinh boyfriend and feeling guilty for cheating. In a...hard place, the singer just wants to finish the act without shame, but walks closer and closer to a depressing climax. About to fill the boyfriends "shoes" by pleasing the woman totally, she backs away, letting the guilt take over. Later, she sloppily and regretfully gives into her desire, leaving the track on a bitter, but all too real note.
1. "Me"
"Oh, I was thinking 'bout killing myself/
Do you mind/
I love you, don't you mind/
Don't you mind"
Selfishness presents itself in the most extreme of situations. In "Me," what appears to be an unstable ex-boyfriend travels back to the woman he loves, dangerously threatening to hurt others and himself along the way. While it seems extreme, the same situation, toned down just slightly, is par the course for many. When paired with its sister track, "You," the two songs relate a level of dysfunction that is extremely sad and painful to watch, but surprisingly common for many fans. Love hurts.