`everyone for ten minutes` is the latest album from New Jersey based rock band Bleachers who are fronted by thirteen time Grammy Award winning artist Jack Antonoff. After releasing their debut album Strange Desire in 2014, the band have built a huge, passionate following across four studio albums, renowned for their impressive live show and infectious camaraderie.
The album opens with the contemplative `sideways` which has a rolling rhythmic texture which is fairly hypnotic. A track that seems to reflect on a relationship that has skewed with a sound that does mirror that sort of regretful meditation. There`s more of a rapped feel to `the van` which has that easy soulful almost lethargic ambience with a chorus that feels as if it`s come straight from `just don’t want to be lonely` a hit for The Main Ingredient in 1974.
`we should talk` is much more upbeat and faster paced and muses on a friendship that changed after the subject married and fathered a child. There`s initially a kind of dreaminess to `you and forever` which is a love song of sorts which takes off and really soars towards the end.
`dirty wedding dress` is about frontman Jack`s wedding not so much the event itself but the occurrences surrounding it and how it`s those close to you that really matter at the end of the day. A foot tapping rhythmic offering. Gospel like organ keys and sax hues lead us slowly into `take you out tonight` before it ignites and almost races along with a soulful r&b ambience and lyrically a defiant vibe about it.
`i can’t believe you’re gone` I read may be about Jack`s sister Sarah who tragically passed away with brain cancer when she was just a teenager, an emotionally charged eulogy but also a wider life reflection. There`s a similar feel and sentiment to `dancing` which is mostly stripped back with strummed acoustic guitar and vocals.
`she’s from before` is a tender melodic reflection on life and possibly a nod to the future. The meditative `i’m not joking` has a rolling drumbeat, harpsichord and a dobro guitar which adds further poignancy to this poetic love ballad. `upstairs at ELS` closes out the album and appears to be about New York`s iconic Electric Lady Studios and is a gentle melodic upbeat composition to end on.
I have to confess that `everyone for ten minutes` is the first album of Bleachers that i`ve listened to. It`s a well-constructed slice of melodic indie pop chocked full of songs with real emotion that veers from a slight feeling of melancholy to a cheerful exuberance of euphoria. The subject matter at times is a little dark but also has some more upbeat segments but it`s fairly real at all times. A really interesting listen which I feel will offer more each time I return to listen.
There`s a UK tour planned for November through December which allows me a little time to acquaint myself with the bands previous four albums.
Rating 8.5/10
