“Bleachers” by Bleachers

A welcome, 80s-adjacent return to form.

Hello! 😊👋

Welcome to a new edition of the Best Music of All Time newsletter!

Today’s music pick is a return to form by the band headlined by pop’s most omnipresent producer.

Genre: Pop, Rock

Label: Dirty Hit

Release Date: March 8, 2024

Vibe: 😎

Scrolling through a list of Jack Antonoff’s production credits is like reading a roll call of pop’s A-list. He's won multiple Grammys and fueled unprecedented record sales through his work with Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, The 1975, Lorded, Florence & the Machine, and many others. It all begs the question: what else could he possibly have to say on another Bleachers album? A few songs in, my cynicism was replaced by pleasant surprise—not only is Bleachers the most musically mature and, at times, adventurous record the six-piece have ever put out, but it’s also their most satisfying. It takes the nostalgia pastiche-iness they’re known for and adds layers of dreamy, at times brutally self-aware elements. It results in an LP that sounds comfortingly familiar and fresher than many pop-rock sloshing around on streaming playlists today.

Take “Modern Girl,” the album’s lead single. The playful saxophone and guttural screeches from Antonoff put the vibes somewhere between late-70s Billy Joel and early-80s Bruce Springsteen (and I mean that in the best way possible). Lyrically, Antonoff also takes time to skewer his public persona, referring to himself as an “unreliable reporter” and a “pop music hoarder,” depictions sure to delight his fans and detractors alike. However, for as fun as that track and other first-half highlights are, it’s in the last 20 minutes that this record really hits its stride. “Call Me After Midnight” is a gorgeous little toe-tapper, while the expansive “Ordinary Heaven” is among the most affecting work the group’s ever done.

Let this be a lesson to all the music nerds out there: Never count an album out before you actually listen to it in its entirety. The sum of its parts may amaze you.

👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈