The 1975 review

The British have a habit of crowning a few too many acts as rock’s Next Big Thing, but sometimes they get it right. Back in 2006, the 21-and-under lads of Arctic Monkeys were the top Brit It band; now the hype belongs to young upstarts the 1975.

Stylistically, the 1975 are a whole different cricket match. They arrive prepolished, gunning for pop-rock glory the way only a new band can. They’re pretty good at it, too, as radio-friendly cuts like ”The City” and ”Sex” attest. It’s all promising, even if their debut leans harder on style than substance. Still, with hooks (and looks) this sleek, they just might outlast the hype. It’s been done before, after all. B