February 2026 marks 10 years since the release of The 1975’s show-stopping second, studio album, ‘I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It.’
Marty Healy simply soundtracked the lives of countless teen Tumblr users back in 2016. His voice echoing through wired headphones comforted thousands of individuals throughout they day-today routine, and countless fans look back at this iconic era with a heart full of love.
Over the span of the records 17 exemplary tracks, the Manchester born and raised band claimed to have drawn inspiration from My Bloody Valentine, D’Angelo, Christina Aguilara, and Terry Lewis. A genre fusion madness, the albums sound avoids slotting into one box however it maintains elements of pop, new wave, indie rock, synth-pop and soul throughout its lifespan. A real mix, but a perfect introductory piece for anyone looking to get into The 1975.
This album along with the bands debut self-titled record, truly solidified their spot in the indie music scene as legitimate musicians who were here to stay. By the time that the bands second album made an appearance, The 1975 had accumulated a dedicated, ever-growing fanbase. Pre-release, each band member, Healy, George Daniel, Ross MacDonald, and Adam Hann deleted their social media users. Fans scrambled and were sent into frenzy believing their favourite band had split, but the best was simply yet come in the form of rectangles, Dr Martens and pink neon lights.
The band worked closely with English art-director, Samuel Burgess-Johnson to create the iconic album artwork. A glowing pink rectangle, a sister print of their self titled cover, a glowing white rectangle over a black background. The band would go on to create individual pink neon signs photographed in a variety of locations as a promotion tactic for each song. Undoubtedly countless fans now think of heart-tugging lyrics when they see the colour pink out and about.
7 singles were released prior to the album in order to build momentum, the first of these being the iconic, ‘Love Me.’ A critique of fame itself littered with egotistical lyrics, this record is Healy fleshing out his pretentious mastermind that countless individuals grew to love.
Upon its release the album was beloved by critics and fans alike, even urging more people to give The 1975 a try. Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and The Guardian, all deemed ‘I Like it When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It’, one of the greatest albums of 2016. Not only was it highly praised by reviews, but the record topped both the UK and the United States charts.
The albums aesthetic drew light onto the initial desaturated, dark birth of The 1975. ‘I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It,’ displays The 1975 embracing their boyband tendencies with a wide grin on their faces. A bubblegum pink lens thrown over everyone’s favourite edgy, poster boys. The 1975’s legendary second studio album is an absolute necessity for any music fan.
