What Antonoff has accomplished with Bleachers that he hasn’t yet with fun. or never did with Steel Train is create an album that inspires as much as it transports. It’s so sure and precise in its vision that it almost feels like a concept album without a concept.
Strange Desire is perhaps the fullest-sounding and most charismatic indie-pop album you’ll hear this year, just in time to become the defining sound of your summer.
Even the infectious energy of “Rollercoaster” can’t quite overcome a demo-like lack of polish that keeps the songs earthbound even as they reach higher.
Nothing else on Bleachers' debut quite reaches ["I Wanna Get Better's"] height, and enticing collaborations with art-pop heavies like Yoko Ono fall flat. But the bright ideas keep coming like mosquitoes at a backyard BBQ.
This album would have fit perfectly in 1987! It just so happens to also fit perfectly in 2014. This is one of my favorite albums. I can'tThis album would have fit perfectly in 1987! It just so happens to also fit perfectly in 2014. This is one of my favorite albums. I can't wait for more from Bleachers!…Expand
New up-and-comers Bleachers, headed by fun. guitarist and Steel Train frontman Jack Antonoff recently dropped their debut album StrangeNew up-and-comers Bleachers, headed by fun. guitarist and Steel Train frontman Jack Antonoff recently dropped their debut album Strange Desire. Filled with art-pop icon collaborations, light bouncy tunes, and two drummers, Antonoff digs deep into some very intricate feelings with the use of 80s synths. Collaborations with big names like Yoko Ono and Grimes don't seem to meet the standard of other songs on this album which makes you question if handing the artistic reigns over to the woman who ruined the Beatles was truly a good idea albeit for, thankfully, only one song. “Take Me Away” is just a reprise of “Wild Heart”, it probably should've just stayed that way. Despite my very strong feelings for this album, it does have a truly demo-like vibe to it that can only be overcome with experience in Bleachers. For a very energetic debut, Antonoff still leaves much room for improvement, however, created something that is truly unusual in this day and age and deserves to be treated as so.…Expand
I discovered the band Bleachers in the spring of 2014, several months before the release of Strange Desire, due to their single I Wanna GetI discovered the band Bleachers in the spring of 2014, several months before the release of Strange Desire, due to their single I Wanna Get Better getting a decent amount of airtime on the radio. I could tell right after listening to I Wanna Get Better that Bleachers was a band that I needed to follow. I immediately looked up the release date of Strange Desire and pre-ordered the deluxe copy, eager to listen to it when the summer release date finally came but upon that release day, after my first listen of the full album, I felt a little disappointed and that feeling only increased in its ferocity the more that I studied the songs on Strange Desire.
I think Strange Desire is a solid album but its standout tracks like I Wanna Get Better and Rollercoaster were, in fact, singles that Bleachers had released to hype up the release of their debut album. This is a great tactic but I felt like I was cheated out of an album because my favourite songs were the songs that I’d already listened to in the spring and the majority of the rest of the album seemed like filler and hastily thought out works of art.
Thankfully, Strange Desire does have some redeemable qualities that make up for the album being, in my opinion, heavily over-hyped. Both the synth-pop leads and the chaotic vocals make Strange Desire feel like an album from the 1980’s but infused with popular trends of today, making the songs both relatable and catchy without feeling too cookie cutter and pristine like so many other pop artists of the modern times. Songs like Wild Heart, Wake Me, Like a River Runs and You’re Still a Mystery add to this 80’s vibe and combing well with I Wanna Get Better and Rollercoaster making the album come away with six out of eleven songs ones that I’ve gone back to listen through again. Reckless Love also has some strong point in it but Who I Want You to Love, I’m Ready to Move On, Take Me Away and Shadow unfortunately do a lot of damage to break apart the album in their lack luster feel.
Overall, Strange Desire is a solid album with enough decent songs on it to be a good debut album for Bleachers but the 11-song set beings to fade rather quickly after several listens and besides a couple stand out songs is forgettable.
Bleachers’ debut album, Strange Desire, is a solid effort, but one that should have done better given the exposure that the band has received and while it’s worth a listen, Strange Desire may not be an album to experience more than a handful of times.…Collapse
The debut album from the pop-rock band Bleachers earned the new band plenty of attention, with the two popular songs "Rollercoaster" and "IThe debut album from the pop-rock band Bleachers earned the new band plenty of attention, with the two popular songs "Rollercoaster" and "I Wana Get Better." It reached a peak position of number 2 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart and the Top Alternative Albums chart. The album has two guest artist appearances - two more than Gone Now. Grimes on "Take Me Away" and Yoko Ono on "Reprise."
Musically, Strange Desire is much more straightforward than Gone Now, and unfortunately it makes it less interesting. Most of the music on this album sounds good, but not terribly original or creative. Also, the production on this album sounds much less polished as the music on Bleachers' sophomore album. The biggest example of the occasionally unpolished, undercooked music on this album would be "Shadow," which has weird, offbeat music during the choruses. "Reckless Love" is catchy, but a little underwhelming. "Like A River Runs" is overdramatic as heck, but still fun. "Mystery" is alright, but hard to call great. The last two songs have varied, slightly experimental music that really stands out, highlighting Jack's creativity. The last song is really good, while "Reprise" falls a little short.
Lyrically, Strange Desire isn't great. Most of the lyrics are about teenage love, and the problems and drama resulting from it. The lyrics are not terribly original or insightful; tired, but not entirely true. Most of the lyrics on this album are meant to be fun-loving and carefree, so I can't bash the lyrics too hard. "Better" has some really interesting, memorable lyrics.
Bleachers' debut album has a solid amount of fun, enjoyable content, but also leaves plenty to be DESIRED, in terms of music and lyrics. Jack shows potential on this album, but really delivers on his second album. 6.5/10…Expand
