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Brittany Borbely

Mr. Patterson
ENC 2135
9/13/15
Genre Paper Rough Draft
I dare say that if you are human, you know what music is; and you recognize it as an art
form that has been central to human expression since, well, always. Most everyone enjoys or
admires music in some way or form. Yet because music in itself is such a broad genre, it has
been broken down into many interesting and expressive genres (or sub-genres). Therefore, artists
and musicians classify or identify their works within a genre or within a few complimentary
genres. So, while many enjoy all ranges of music, most people have their favorite genre or
genres of music. Myself being the type who does enjoy all ranges of music, I still lean more-so
towards artists whose music falls under rock, "ambiance"/electric, or pop. Knowing this, it
comes as no surprise that a personal favorite group of mine produces music that could arguably
fit into all three genres. The strikingly obvious English born and angst-filled Matt Healy
combined with George Daniel, Adam Hann, and Ross MacDonald together form (despite their
obvious 80's influence) The 1975.
Thesis Idea:
In order to categorize The 1975's debut album "The 1975" into all three musical genres of
rock, pop, and ambiance/electric, each genre and it's typical characteristics and themes
must be assessed in comparison to their presence on the album.

Outline for body of paper:


Paragraph I: Briefly/concisely define and describe rock, pop, and ambient music genres and their
conventional characteristics. Then periodically review and group the songs of the album as they
fit into each genre.
Paragraph II: Summarize/analyze the themes that are prevalent in the album so that I can assess
how they can fit into each genre. Provide an overall "feel" of the album/music so that my
knowledge of the genre assessment is more credible.
Paragraph III: Sum up my analysis of the album and how I view it's overall genre.
Notes: Need to use sources such as reviews.

In order to analyze how the album displays conventions belonging to pop music, rock
music, and ambient music, it is important to understand the facets that each of these genres are
built on. Pop music characteristically is catchy upbeat radio-material with a backbone of
generally shallow or average lyrics. Pop music is typically centered around relatable topics such
as love, having fun, or moving on from heartbreak. So songs such as "She Way Out",
"Chocolate", "Sex", "Settle Down", "So Far (It's Alright), "Girls", and "The City" represent the
pop music aspect of the album as they contain lyrics and instrumentals that are catchy, flowy,
and upbeat. So certainly, these numbers in particular place themselves within the stereotypical
outlines of pop music tunes-but not entirely. While the lyrics are at first catchy and easy to sing
along with, listeners come to find that the lyrics at hand might not be quite as relatable as they
seem. These songs may be fun and catchy, but that does not mean they are all radio material.
(Discuss why the lyrics do not fit into the strictly conventional pop genre). Another example of
this can be found in the music video for the song "Girls", when the band finally allowed some
color into their music-literally, as this was the first video that stepped out of the realm of black
and white they seem to thrive in. The song itself could be a pop anthem, and it seems as if the
band's management hoped it would be, but Matty uses his body language to expresses his
boredom and annoyance with the pop music environment the video takes place in. The influence
and presence of pop music is there whether the band or album wants it to be or not, but so are the
influences of other genres as well. Thus, "The 1975" can become viewed as a synthesis of pop
music and other genres-such as rock. Pop music does not base itself off of a foundation of heavy
guitar and drum influence, and these songs all do. These songs, particularly "Sex" and "The
City", could similarly be viewed as rock anthems. Rock music is easy to classify by it's ensured
coupling of heavy guitar/drum instrumentals and heightened emotions expressed through edgy

lyrics. Rock music makes you want to "head-bang"-plain and simple. Rock music as a genre also
has a look to it. A look that that The 1975 as a band definitely achieves through their 80's themed
monochromatic aesthetic, dark wardrobe, tattoos, cigarettes, excessive drinking, and so on.
(While this look is more than typical for rock-based bands, they still manage to make it seem
fresh). Yet, without knowing what the band may look like, the album presents the band as a
group that is more or less built on rock, but does not want to limit itself to strictly that genre. The
1975 aims to explore more genres to express their sound through. The subgenre of pure soft-rock
is clear in slower more potent tracks like "Woman", "Me", and "Is There Somebody Who Could
Watch You?", where the lyrics focus around struggles with depression, drugs, and the weight of
responsibility for loved ones. (Next I will summarize and analyze ambient music and it's parts of
the album as well, but that will take me longer to summarize-I want to make sure I'm headed in
the right direction before doing that!)
While the band itself had been in the works for years, under numerous other names, The
1975 itself burst onto the music scene in 2013. Their music caught the eyes and ears of those
who find liking in electric bands such as M83, more indie-alternative names like The Arctic
Monkeys, and pure rock-based bands such as Kings of Leon. Even those who enjoy more of an
80's vibe easily found liking with the new sound that was "The 1975". A few months, music
videos, and festival gigs later, (and thanks to twitter and word of mouth), The 1975 had gained
their millions of adoring fans. Their sound is something new, unlike other sounds of late that
seem to mimic other past bands while trying to add their own touch. The 1975 surprises their
listeners with an inventive and unique sound that combines elements of pop, rock, and ambient
musical genres all into one musically successful album. The album can be sorted song by song
into the genres of rock, pop, and ambient/electric, or combinations of two or all of these genres.

Each succeeding track on the album seems to shift from one variation to the next; and the album
in total carries an array of themes and commonalities in all of its' lyrics, beats, and sounds. Rock
music as a genre is generally associated and characterized by more rebellious and edgy themes.
Therefore, when Matty uses the album to express his journey through depression, rebellion, and
angst, coupled with mentions of sex, drugs, and even an allusion to suicide, he gives the album a
more rock-based core. Yet many of the songs and lyrics within this album can be described as
simply more whimsical and playful, with themes such as young love and admiration of the
monstrously complex topic that he thinks the average girl is; and these are themes we as listeners
would associate with pop music. His imaginative spirit also helps give the album a bit of a popbased foundation as well to compliment the rock feel. Finally, the album has it's way of
transporting the listener to a place in which they too feel as if they're aimlessly wandering
through England by dusk, wondering strange and blurry thoughts, as lost and unsure as the lyrics
they're listening to are. This theme of uncertainty and blurriness of thought is prevalent through
much of the album, and is always accompanied by slower and more rhythmic sounds and beats.
These parts of the album are what cause listeners to consider much of the music produced by The
1975 as purely ambient. Overall, the album's overarching themes and characteristics allow it to
bare the makeup of all three genres of pop, rock, and ambient music.
Paragraph III will re-summarize my points and thesis and close the paper.

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