Notes on a Conditional Form
by The 1975
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 200 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 132 out of 200
  2. Mixed: 37 out of 200
  3. Negative: 31 out of 200
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. j444cks
    Mar 2, 2023
    6
    Not a bad album, just not for me [as a long time fan]. Felt too detached from their first few albums. I can definitely see the appeal though and enjoyed the tour!
  2. TheedmondX
    Mar 1, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Un álbum de larga duración, debe ser apreciado como tal, no se dejen llevar por su falta de tiempo o pocas ganas de escuchar música, cada canción es un viaje que se complementa perfecto con la siguiente y el álbum en si.
    Es por mucho el proyecto más complejo de la banda,. Experimenta con sonidos country, dance, electrónica House, pop, rock, punk...no sé cómo lo lograron pero lograron un álbum homogéneo, con un concepto bien planteado, Notes on a Conditional Form es un álbum que refleja a la perfección de manera sonora y lírica temáticas actuales como el cambio climático, esta nueva sociedad, la religión, tecnología., refleja de manera sensata un sentimiento universal...de este planeta    … Expand
  3. MCotsalas
    Jan 7, 2022
    3
    A few decent songs among the bunch, which is too bad because the album is essentially 3/4 filler. They took the sound and concept of TOOTIME, possibly the band's worst song in their entire catalog, and made an album with it. Hopefully if they release a new album in the future they can move away from this computerized mess.
  4. cspencere
    May 24, 2021
    10
    An unbelievably beautiful and transcendent musical experience. It took a few listens to fully grasp but even off of the first one the vibes are immaculate; classic, but evolved, in terms of what we associate with the band's sound. A truly important piece of The 1975's discography and possibly their magnum opus. Only time will tell. I can't wait to see what the rest of their career has inAn unbelievably beautiful and transcendent musical experience. It took a few listens to fully grasp but even off of the first one the vibes are immaculate; classic, but evolved, in terms of what we associate with the band's sound. A truly important piece of The 1975's discography and possibly their magnum opus. Only time will tell. I can't wait to see what the rest of their career has in store because they always seem to one-up themselves.… Expand
  5. petrichor1975
    May 22, 2021
    6
    The fourth full-length release from The 1975 sees them explore house music, orchestral soundtracks, and acoustic ballads. It comes about a-year-and-a-half after their third album, "A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships", which was my second favorite album from the group.

    I personally wasn't too enthralled by the singles that were released to promote the album. I thought "People",    The fourth full-length release from The 1975 sees them explore house music, orchestral soundtracks, and acoustic ballads. It comes about a-year-and-a-half after their third album, "A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships", which was my second favorite album from the group.

    I personally wasn't too enthralled by the singles that were released to promote the album. I thought "People", "Me & You Together Song", and "If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know) were great songs, but the singles felt haphazardly released.

    This theme of haphazardness runs through the album. I found the opening ambient "The 1975" to be nice, but perhaps a bit too long. The whole album itself is too long. Twenty-two tracks is way too long for what this album ends up being. "People" is a sudden change of pace to hard-hitting punk. However, I find the two orchestra interludes after the first few tracks are not the most substantive. They sound beautiful, but what purpose do they serve? That isn't clear.

    Other tracks come and go. The UK garage anthem, "Frail State of Mind" is a peak into singer Matty Healy's psyche as well as the folk-driven tune, "The Birthday Party". Nevertheless, I find some of the next few songs to be not as entertaining. "Then Because She Goes" does not really hold my attention and "Roadkill" has the same effect on me.

    "Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America" is one of the more accessible songs on the album with Phoebe Bridgers contributing her lush vocals to the track. "I Think There's Something You Should Know"' and "Yeah I Know" are also entertaining with their trippy drum machines and modular synths driving the track.

    But "Notes On A Conditional Form" really falls flat on cohesion. This feels less like an album and more like a playlist, and perhaps that's the point. However, The 1975 have always been known for their cohesion, even in long-winded albums like 2016's "I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It". Songs like "Nothing Revealed / Everything Denied" and "Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy) start off promising but end up chasing other ideas than those that were originally introduced.

    "Shiny Collarbone" and "Having No Head" are other examples of the group choosing quantity over quality. The house & garage musical motifs have already made themselves present, but the group knows how to double down on those sounds and make it feel less special than it originally felt.

    Not all is lost, however. There are some highlights in the latter half of "Notes". The 80s synthpop tune, "If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)" is one of the band's finest moments thus far. It recalls the sounds of their first two records. "What Should I Say" is groovy fun while "Don't Worry" and "Guys" can make you cry and call your friends.

    "Notes On A Conditional Form" is definitely a unique and ambitious album by The 1975. However, its ambition itself is its main downfall. If the album were cut eight songs shorter then there might be more cohesion. Nonetheless, there are some great highlights in this album from the English group.    … Expand
  6. alexander0231
    May 7, 2021
    7
    in my opinion, their worst album. that said though it is still a decent and enjoyable record.
  7. Chris182
    Apr 25, 2021
    4
    Very disappointing and is easily the most pretentious, bloated and mindless album they have released to date. While this is their worst album, it is far from unredeemable since there are some decent songs on this thing (also a whole lotta bad). You and Me is easily one of the best songs of the year and People is a total blast to listen to. Almost all of thier interlude/ instrumental songsVery disappointing and is easily the most pretentious, bloated and mindless album they have released to date. While this is their worst album, it is far from unredeemable since there are some decent songs on this thing (also a whole lotta bad). You and Me is easily one of the best songs of the year and People is a total blast to listen to. Almost all of thier interlude/ instrumental songs are completely boring and unecessary. They try out so many different ideas on this album but never nurture them, leaving us with 80 minutes of songs that feel like after thoughts to the band. Hopefully they can follow through with a cohesive album for their next release.
    Best Songs: People, Then because she goes, Me and You (Together Song), I Think There is Ssomething You Should Know, Roadkill
    Worst Songs: Yeah I Know (Their Worst Songs), The Birthday Party, Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America, Frail State of Mind, Shiny Collerbone, You're Too Shy Let Me Know, What Should I Say, Bagsy Not in Net    … Expand
  8. kevinanso
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    Una muy buena produccion, aunque cada cancion tiene generos diferentes estan muy bien cuidadas y realizadas y tiene hits como if youre too shy let me know, guys
  9. mande77
    Nov 14, 2020
    7
    Definitely a playlist album, not one to be listened to in order.

    High points are: “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)”, “People”, “Frail State of Mind”, “Roadkill”, “Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy”, “Having No Head”, “Playing on my Mind”, “Me & You Together Song”, and “Guys.” Low points are: “The 1975”, “Yeah I Know”, “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America”, “I Think There’s Something You    Definitely a playlist album, not one to be listened to in order.

    High points are: “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)”, “People”, “Frail State of Mind”, “Roadkill”, “Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy”, “Having No Head”, “Playing on my Mind”, “Me & You Together Song”, and “Guys.”

    Low points are: “The 1975”, “Yeah I Know”, “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America”, “I Think There’s Something You Should Know”, “Nothing Revelaed/Everything Denied”, “Shiny Collarbone”,    … Expand
  10. GeorgeParris
    Nov 6, 2020
    7
    A weird album where if you put it on shuffle the album flows better. Although everything sounds good and musically sounds unique there is no cohesive sound meaning that the whole album experience isn't as good as picking singles out and listening to them.
  11. Gothwriterboy
    Oct 27, 2020
    9
    Iconic. A completely different experience. A album with the excellent quality of variation. The 1975 know how make music with a lot of genres.
  12. Lajaleaa
    Sep 1, 2020
    7
    ( 71/100 )

    The 1975 trabaja sin cansancio y con energía constante para volverse una influencia popular en el consumo musical. Con 4 albums publicados en un lapso de 7 años, la banda se ha impregnado fuertemente en la cultura popular de Estados Unidos y varias partes del mundo. Personalmente considero que su trabajo ha aportado poco valor a la industria de la música, sin embargo su    ( 71/100 )

    The 1975 trabaja sin cansancio y con energía constante para volverse una influencia popular en el consumo musical. Con 4 albums publicados en un lapso de 7 años, la banda se ha impregnado fuertemente en la cultura popular de Estados Unidos y varias partes del mundo. Personalmente considero que su trabajo ha aportado poco valor a la industria de la música, sin embargo su visión y dominio sobre la gran gama de géneros musicales les ha hecho sentir como la "alternativa inteligente" al resto de la música de la radio. Pero realmente la banda está perdida buscando ser un puente emocional entre varios conceptos y termina como una invisible transición entre conceptos más coherentes de otros artistas. Aunque las letras sean crudas, perspicaces y se amoldan a cada canción, es la producción y la falta de cohesión conceptual la que hace a The 1975 una banda pasajera más en el autobús de la popularidad.
    -
    The 1975 works tirelessly and with constant energy to become a popular influence in music consumerism. With 4 albums published in 7 years, the band has managed to permeate strongly in the popular culture of the United States and other parts of the world. Personally, I consider that their work has provided too little value in the music industry, nevertheless, their vision and domain over the wide range of musical genres have made them feel like the "intelligent alternative" to the rest of radio music. But really, the band is lost searching to be the emotional bridge between several concepts and ends up being an invisible transition between more coherent concepts of other artists. Even if the lyrics are raw, insightful, and fit properly in each song, the production and the lack of conceptual cohesion is what makes of The 1975 one more passenger band in the "Popularity" bus.    … Expand
  13. SantiT
    Aug 30, 2020
    10
    Despite everyone else, I believe that this is their best album. NOACF shows us their evolution and their ability to explore different genres of music. It's a perfect body of work. A masterpiece.
  14. Ricko
    Aug 26, 2020
    6
    You can't fault The 1975 for ambition. I have to say, this is a decent enough listen, swinging from spoken word, to light industrial rock, from pseudo classical to straight up electro pop. For all its pomp and grandeur, it is questionable whether the album actually achieves anything and its certainly not as good as the band almost certainly thinks it is. The band spends minimal time onYou can't fault The 1975 for ambition. I have to say, this is a decent enough listen, swinging from spoken word, to light industrial rock, from pseudo classical to straight up electro pop. For all its pomp and grandeur, it is questionable whether the album actually achieves anything and its certainly not as good as the band almost certainly thinks it is. The band spends minimal time on particular ideas without developing them satisfactorily. It isn't bad at all but Coldplay's "Everyday Life" from last year is a superior version of what is attempted here.… Expand
  15. venusprincess
    Aug 2, 2020
    0
    PAREM DE FAZER MÚSICA EU TO IMPLORANDO PAREM DE FAZER MUSICA PRA ADOLESCENTES REVOLTADOS DE 16 ANOS VOCÊS JÁ TEM 30 ANOS PELO AMOR DE DEUS
  16. DRTJ
    Jul 24, 2020
    9
    Favorite track: "Don't Worry"
    Least favorite track: "Yeah I Know"
    The 1975's most divisive but also diverse album to date, "Notes On A Conditional Form" gets better with additional listens, emphasis on the plural. It's a mammoth 22-track monster, and while none of the filler is necessarily "bad," it's still filler nonetheless. I appreciate the effort put into this album, as each song    Favorite track: "Don't Worry"
    Least favorite track: "Yeah I Know"

    The 1975's most divisive but also diverse album to date, "Notes On A Conditional Form" gets better with additional listens, emphasis on the plural. It's a mammoth 22-track monster, and while none of the filler is necessarily "bad," it's still filler nonetheless. I appreciate the effort put into this album, as each song has its own personality and vibe, whether it's a classic The 1975 sounding track like "If You're Too Shy" or an experimental instrumental like "Having No Head." The band is able to diversify here more than before, as Matty learns to take a backseat for a few tracks and let his contemporaries just do their thing. That's not to say that Matty isn't integral to the album though. His songwriting here is better than ever: "Nothing Revealed/Everything Denied" in particular has some of the best written lyrics of the past decade: both self-referential and critical of the pop music industry. At its few low moments, "Notes On A Conditional Form" is an in-one-ear-out-the-other album. But at its highest peaks, this bold and daring album really soars.    … Expand
  17. GabrielPaz
    Jul 12, 2020
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Que isso n é um album ta na cara, ta mais pra mixtape do que uma obra completa, gostei das músicas porém ele é sem personalidade e é sem inspiração.… Expand
  18. brockcheese
    Jul 9, 2020
    7
    This is a bit of a lesser follow up to their previous work but Matt Healy once again connects with the youth and millennial culture by cashing in on all of the tropes and anxieties of being young.
  19. abadiaz
    Jul 2, 2020
    7
    It was a nice album, starting between two very coherent songs, but the album continues in different directions between electronic indie rock and 90s even dancehall rhythms, the goal of sound experimentation is remarkable, but I am missing the common one. thread.
  20. sugarcookie
    Jun 20, 2020
    5
    This album is woof woof compared to every other album they've made. Some songs are straight up unlistenable. The singles were the only decent songs on the album. The only non-single songs that don't sound awful are What Should I say, Yeah I Know, I Think There's Something You Should Know. I can't permasimp for a band that can't make decent new music anymore, so this album sucks.
  21. matty_mealy
    Jun 19, 2020
    8
    A dreamy, at times self-indulgent yet fantastically interesting record.

    Following the critical acclaim of The 1975’s last record “A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships” it was clear that mastering that level of musicianship presented previously was not going to be an easy task for the band. Containing their best work to date, the record may have finally showed the world that the    A dreamy, at times self-indulgent yet fantastically interesting record.

    Following the critical acclaim of The 1975’s last record “A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships” it was clear that mastering that level of musicianship presented previously was not going to be an easy task for the band. Containing their best work to date, the record may have finally showed the world that the band is incredibly serious and introspective, when they want to be.

    Their latest record, “Notes On A Conditional Form” still feels like an evolution on the sonic arrays that they brought forward a couple of years ago, however – it feels (at times) like they are slipping back into old, perhaps over indulgent habits that may sway the quality of the record.    … Expand
  22. JoeyCORNER2001
    Jun 17, 2020
    8
    I do admire The 1975's ambition, experimenting with different genres, and making the album's scope MASSIVE. (The album's length is a whopping 80 MINUTES!)
  23. bjhh
    Jun 17, 2020
    1
    So obsessed with attempting to be 'deep' and being the voice of a generation, Healy's egotistical complex takes over on Notes. This tone is set from the first track; a 5 minute extract of Greta Thunberg, not a particularly good public speaker, talking over ambient, disconnected bleeps. Even if for some reason you like the sound of that, you still probably won't like what follows. The albumSo obsessed with attempting to be 'deep' and being the voice of a generation, Healy's egotistical complex takes over on Notes. This tone is set from the first track; a 5 minute extract of Greta Thunberg, not a particularly good public speaker, talking over ambient, disconnected bleeps. Even if for some reason you like the sound of that, you still probably won't like what follows. The album is a completely garbled mess. Tracks 3 and 5 are both orchestral interludes, so you would expect this to be a recurring theme throughout the album, but it is never returned to again. Healy rants about things he is guilty of himself (e.g. on Nothing Revealed... he blasts artists for charging for meet and greets for their fans when The 1975's shows are regularly overpriced for their fanbase and their merchandise is $$$). Critics have often chosen Me & You Together Song as a highlight, but even this sounds like a B-TEC Stone Roses cover band's attempt at writing their own material. It's not normal for me to dislike every minute of an album, but it's very hard not to with this thing. UGH!!!… Expand
  24. Lorso
    Jun 4, 2020
    7
    I might rate the album a point higher (or more) if it had omitted track one. I am, generally, conflicted re statement-making in child-voice... given that, if the statement is worth making, there should be adults courageous enough to make it. (i.e., Why recruit a child, who’s incomplete personal growth demands the freedom and possibility of change?)

    Otherwise, I confess to a slight bias    I might rate the album a point higher (or more) if it had omitted track one. I am, generally, conflicted re statement-making in child-voice... given that, if the statement is worth making, there should be adults courageous enough to make it. (i.e., Why recruit a child, who’s incomplete personal growth demands the freedom and possibility of change?)

    Otherwise, I confess to a slight bias against high-tenor/soprano male vocals... if only because I can’t sing along.    … Expand
  25. Alverte
    Jun 2, 2020
    10
    They excel in any contemporary style. The band of our times and hopefully our future.
  26. itsallindie
    May 31, 2020
    5
    urgh - it feels like they literally put everything they wrote in the sessions for this album, into the album itself. 22 tracks is far too much, if it was more towards the style of "Frail State of Mind" / "Yeah I Know" / "I Think There's Something You Should Know" and so on... then it would actually be one of my top 5 albums of the past two years.

    There's now flow here, the genres chop    urgh - it feels like they literally put everything they wrote in the sessions for this album, into the album itself. 22 tracks is far too much, if it was more towards the style of "Frail State of Mind" / "Yeah I Know" / "I Think There's Something You Should Know" and so on... then it would actually be one of my top 5 albums of the past two years.

    There's now flow here, the genres chop and chop too much for my liking, if they released 12 tracks, then another 10 as a 'bonus edition' fans would love it, but 22 for me was overkill.    … Expand
  27. RageNate
    May 31, 2020
    5
    Worthies (10/22):
    - People
    - Then Because She Goes
    - Me & You Together Song
    - I Think There's Something You Should Know
    - Nothing Revealed / Everything Denied
    - Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy)
    - Shiny Collarbone
    - If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)
    - What Should I Say
    - Guys
  28. Majkloslav
    May 29, 2020
    9
    Most people don't like the diversity of this album. I on the other hand love it.
  29. Joel_Freecheck
    May 29, 2020
    8
    Overlong but brimming with classic 1975 stylings. Hard to despise and the highlights elevate the project far above the lows. "Roadkill" and "If You're Too Shy" are the songs every artist dreams of making.
  30. moonpie1979
    May 29, 2020
    3
    One might be tempted to compare Notes... to certain canonical albums which are similarly sprawling and disjointed. Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk springs immediately to mind - an opus that left many listeners scratching their heads and which polarised fans. Whilst that particular example has aged well and remains a wonderful mess, it’s so hard to picture this offering’s status as a classic beingOne might be tempted to compare Notes... to certain canonical albums which are similarly sprawling and disjointed. Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk springs immediately to mind - an opus that left many listeners scratching their heads and which polarised fans. Whilst that particular example has aged well and remains a wonderful mess, it’s so hard to picture this offering’s status as a classic being debated in 40 years’ time. It’s simply flabby. There are some wonderful moments here for sure - moments of sweetness, moments of warmth and melody. But equally there are moments - far too many of them - that feel cold, robotic and unwelcome. I’d say it could have used some editing but even trimmed of the weaker tracks, you’d have a single album of less merit than any of its predecessors. Maybe it rewards repeated listening - but it certainly doesn’t invite it.… Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 28
  3. Negative: 2 out of 28
  1. The Observer (UK)
    Aug 3, 2020
    60
    A Brief Inquiry is a hard album to top, and Notes is, perhaps, the most disjointed and unclassifiable of the 1975’s works. It serves best, perhaps, as a long and intermittently lovely outro to that defining record.
    Read full review
  2. No Ripcord
    Jun 16, 2020
    60
    Notes on a Conditional Form is a fantastic 12 track, 45-minute album. It’s just a shame that The 1975 decided to make it into a 22 track, 80 minute one. There’s certainly enough going on to recommend repeat listens, but the quality level waxes and wanes so much throughout that it won’t take you too long to find your favorites and start returning to just those.
    Read full review
  3. Beats Per Minute
    May 27, 2020
    77
    The diversity is so vast and so well done that it’s almost commendable. Mainly though, it’s just a bit much for one sitting, and instead feels more like you’re listening to The 1975 radio on Spotify.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »