Bleachers is an American rock band from New Jersey and the official stage name of songwriter and record producer Jack Antonoff. After spending some time working with pop’s biggest household names such as Taylor Swift, The 1975, Lana Del Rey, Lorde, St. Vincent, Florence and the Machine and more, Jack Antonoff and company release their latest self-titled album this month. This new release is front man Jack Antonoff’s distinctly New Jersey take on the bizarre sensory contradictions of modern life, on his position in culture, and on the things he cares about.
The album opens with `I Am Right On Time` which kind of evolves and becomes a delightfully reflective look back on what may well be an adolescent romance which seemed to have fizzled out. A number that pulls at your heartstrings. We have in `Modern Girl` a song about partying. A saxophone screams us into life with lyrics that are nigh on rapped in a kind of Billy Joel `We Didn`t Start the Fire` vibe and a number that reminded me of Australian pop rock band Men at Work. An almost perfect pop song.
`Jesus Is Dead`, I read is a eulogy for the New York scenes that Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff has witnessed over the past twenty years. A thoughtful and meditative honest appraisal shared over a simple but effective aural backing. A song about the personal growth needed to begin a meaningful relationship follows with `Me Before You`. Again it`s almost minimal in its presentation but wonderfully compelling. The brass tinges add a further poignancy to this number.
`Alma Mater` features guest vocals and by American singer Lana Del Ray and the two singers really play off each other on this dreamy offering. As an alma mater is a seat of learning the track may well be about how the narrator has grown through the influence of his muse. We have a fairly introspective number in `Tiny Moves` whose subject matter covers the singer`s formative years, writing from an early age about personal experiences and how he has grown. Again, musically it`s quite mesmerising.
There`s a real shimmer to `Isimo` which seems to be a further reflection on childhood and growing up. A strummed acoustic guitar leads us into and through `Woke Up Today` which is a love song or a declaration of love to that special someone.
`Self-Respect` lyrically seems more about the lack of confidence in a relationship and seeking that continual assurance that all is ok. It`s another uncomplicated ruminative listen. If you were expecting a Hendrix cover with `Hey Joe` this is not it, but a kind of stream of consciousness shared over a shuffled drum, double bass, and melodic harmonic vocals.
`Call Me After Midnight` is a cover and expansion of American hip-hop boy band Brockhampton’s March, an unfinished demo from the band’s Saturation Drafts and is an enjoyable soulful submission. We have a more emotional reflection on love and its potency on `We’re Gonna Know Each Other Forever`
`Ordinary Heaven` has a feeling of contentment about it and may well be about seeking serenity in the ordinary or everyday simple pleasures that life has to offer. The number kind of bleeds into the final track `The Waiter` which is a kind of inner monologue of thoughts that veer towards the positive aspects of life despite its ordinary daily worries and concerns. The vocals seem to be slightly distorted as if sung through an auto-tune or vocoder.
Bleachers is unashamedly a pop album but rooted in everyday, observational perceptions that seem simple but are truly deep reflections garnered in sentimentality and romanticism at times. It`s a nigh on perfect melodic pop album that will slowly seep into your being and almost overtake your everyday life.
Rating 9/10
