Being Funny In A Foreign Language
by The 1975
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. PopMatters
    Oct 14, 2022
    60
    Despite a more liberal use of string sections this time out, Funny sounds like another album made by the 1975.
  2. The Line of Best Fit
    Oct 10, 2022
    50
    Although the songs are largely solid, there’s a recurring sense of deja vu. ... Being Funny in a Foreign Language sees The 1975 lose touch with the reality they are usually so skilled at reflecting. Ever one to over-intellectualise, Healy is wrapped up in so many repeating layers of fame and meaning and memes and buzzwords that any real meaning is out of reach.

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Most Discussed Album of 2022

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 71 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 71
  3. Negative: 8 out of 71
  1. noonebutnoah
    Oct 14, 2022
    3
    I was pretty disappointed by this album as a 1975 fan, it felt very unoriginal and flavorless compared to their other projects, with theirI was pretty disappointed by this album as a 1975 fan, it felt very unoriginal and flavorless compared to their other projects, with their sound becoming even more cliche sounding making it feel extremely disingenuous. The only song I found some slight enjoyment in was about you because it’s slow longer length made it seem like some care was put into it.… Full Review »
  2. genhee1217
    Aug 28, 2023
    8
    this album shows ultimate producing ability of matty and george. It has come to be more popular and more comfortable. Although they are notthis album shows ultimate producing ability of matty and george. It has come to be more popular and more comfortable. Although they are not just young rock stars, it is an album that is more attractive to them.… Full Review »
  3. petrichor1975
    Apr 4, 2023
    9
    The 1975's previous album, Notes on a Conditional Form, was released in 2020, at the onset of the pandemic. I intended on seeing them thatThe 1975's previous album, Notes on a Conditional Form, was released in 2020, at the onset of the pandemic. I intended on seeing them that year in concert, but it was obviously cancelled. I was not impressed by "Notes...", and thought it was extremely long and could've been cut in half and still would've been a great album. While there are some great sounds on that album, for me, it is too long and is not cohesive.

    When the group came back online in the spring / summer of 2022 and released the single, "Part of the Band", I was interested to see what new sound Matty and the boys would take on. I was initially unimpressed by the song and wrote off the group like I did for a majority of the songs on "Notes...". However, when "Happiness" and "I'm In Love With You" came out, I was nudged back in their direction. They sounded like themselves again, but that is contradictory to say in itself. The 1975 is a band that explores so many different soundscapes. "Notes..." saw that taken to the nth degree. Nonetheless, as a fan who first fell in love with "I Like It When You Sleep...", I was coming back to them.

    I was, of course, going to check out "Being Funny in a Foreign Language" when it came out. The 1975 are one of my favorite bands of all time. I wouldn't miss an album release from them. After hearing it in full, I was completely back onboard. This is their comeback, in my opinion. "Notes..." was a messy and average collection of songs, but "Being Funny..." is a focused statement.

    It feels like Matty and Co. really sat down and learned from the shortcomings of their previous album. There are some great highlights on this album. "The 1975" features Matty's musings on sincerity, being young, and reflections on today's society. Their classic 80s sound comes through on tracks like "Looking for Somebody (To Love)", "Oh Caroline", and "I'm in Love With You". This is what pulled me into the album. I even came around on "Part of the Band". Album tracks like "About You", "Wintering", and "When We Are Together" just took me away. It convinced me that the album can still make cohesive, focused, and meaningful works of art. I really hope to see them on their tour for this album. It looks amazing.    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »