The American indie-pop band Bleachers announced that their fourth album will be released on 8 March this year. The self-titled album is produced by the respected indie label Dirty Hit, famous for signing The 1975 and Beabadoobee.
The band are also lined up to perform a sold-out UK tour, kicking off in London on 19 March.
Jack Antonoff, the band’s front man, has eight Grammys to his name for his work as a producer, working for artists such as Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift, and their Dirty Hit friend The 1975. His style is something so unique that he has been branded as “redefining pop”.
This album focuses on who Bleachers are as a band. It is soulful, unique, boldly colourful, sad, and somehow all wrapped into 14 tracks.
Bleachers opens with I Am Right on Time. An adventurous synth and a shyly strummed guitar lead us to Antonoff’s soft vocals. As the track continues, it builds to a more powerful beat, as though it has gained confidence and has an overwhelming flow of emotions it needs to release.
Modern Girl gives us whiplash as it drags us by the hand into an upbeat and humorous song about modern girls “shaking their ass tonight”. It’s the kind of song you yell out on road trips- it’s impossible to stay still to.
Back to a more relaxed and sombre vibe is Jesus Is Dead. This track has a quiet sort of determinism throughout it as powerful lyrics are gently sung. Describing the track, Antonoff said: “Jesus is dead is almost like this protective shield, ‘this is where I’m at’. If that’s not enough for someone, then they need not be in this audience or in this conversation.”
Alma Mater sees long-time collaborator, Lana Del Rey, join in on the vocals. This track is very floaty, with hints of jazz appearing throughout.
“This song is a weird little magic gem where I’m not really sure why all the pieces are coming together, but they are in this really special way to me,” Antonoff notes.
Self Respect is a colourful piece with vocals similar to Oh Wonder. The track thinks about existential questions, why things happen the way they do. It reminds us that even in confusing times, we must focus on what matters
“I’m not only thinking about deep things. I’m not only thinking about silly things. It’s all happening at once,” said Antonoff.
Bleachers ends the album with The Waiter, a melancholic track featuring auto-tuned vocals. Perhaps a more memorable track would’ve served better as the end, but on this walk of life you never know when the end will rear its head.
Overall, it is a solid album that shows who Bleachers are with no shadow of a doubt. Bleachers takes you through the walk of life, stopping at various milestones on the way.
Featured Image Credit: Alex Lockett
Fourth year student journalist studying Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Journalism Studies.
Words at Brig, The Daily Evergreen, Alloa Advertiser, Discovery Music Scotland, and The Mourning Paper.
