Bleachers’ Self-Titled Album Is An Entourage Of Fervor and Soul-Filled Moments

The Bleachers' self-titled album, 'Bleachers’ is a scrapbook filled with an assemblage of sounds, emotions, and experiences that reflect the band's viewpoint of their lives past and present. It's peculiar that this album is named after the group now and not something that was done earlier in their musical career; however, when you listen to this album and hear how the band has grown through the themes explored in this project - it's not hard to recognise that this is work wholly the most Bleachers it can be. 

'Bleachers' is a cinematic experience that puts you on the same level as them. The unwinding of stories that gravitate around newfound fulfilment in life, celebration and having fun against the uncertainty; noticing the way that the world has changed as a millennial; the way that we show up for various relationships (romantic and platonic); and the way our minds tend to ruminate on the past both the warming and the burrowed heartache. It's a masterful artwork that heightens those themes by infusing enthralling sounds that provide texture. 

As you hit play and begin the album with 'i am right on time', the jovial horns combined with light guitar riffs crescendoing match the sentiment of arriving at contentment. It's bursting out at the seams of introducing a moment of this, where we are (you, the listener, and the Bleachers), and it's all well. Everything is as it should be! 

Moving into 'Modern Girl', the saxophone brings a texture of letting loose as it scats around the syncopated drum beat - one that is similar to 'We Didn't Start The Fire' by Billy Joel. It's an energetic and amusing listen to how people are finding ways to experience joy and celebration. Either a celebration of themselves or others, it doesn't matter. It's the antithesis of the current reality of the lonely path carved out by corporate societal restrictions! 

'Jesus is dead' is one of the most fascinating songs on the album, followed by 'alma mater.' The former is full of electronic synths and is a step back from the album's beginning. Instead of the jovial tone at the beginning, 'jesus is dead', is a point of view of "uh oh" that is felt by older Gen-Z and Millennials trying to keep up with all areas of adulthood (jobs, understanding the younger generations, identity, etc). Think of this song like a shaky upward, angled point-of-view camera in a movie watching the protagonist fight an internal panic while walking around. 

Meanwhile, 'alma mater' is darker in tone and is filled with memories that haunt you. This is where the thoughts of past loves from late teens to early 20s sneak in. 

Playing with the term alma mater puts a spin on nostalgia for what is considered the "heydays," but with a bitter spin on them. Not to mention, Lana Del Rey's gorgeous vocals add depth and dimension to the bittersweet melancholy. It's clear that the protagonist is moved on from this, but as we all know, memories stick around and, every once in a while, in a twisted touch of sentimental heartache. 

The mentioned songs are only a drop into the scrapbook the band is sharing with the world. There's so much compacted in other songs such as 'isimo', 'call me after midnight', and 'self-respect' that brush over small-town escapism, loving your friend and helping them when they're low, and risking yourself for a taste of love. The 14-track album is rich in moments that will reach in and touch any listener to the core of their soul! 

Tyra Baker

@got_tyra

Image: ‘Bleachers’ Official Album Cover