Bleachers – 'everyone for ten minutes' Album Review

52 minutes ago
2 min read

Tracklist:

sideways
the van
we should talk
you and forever
dirty wedding dress
take you out tonight
i can’t believe you’re gone
dancing
she’s from before
i’m not joking
upstairs at ELS

Bleachers are back with their fifth album, released on the 22^nd of May, before one of their largest European and UK tours in November and December this year.

Dare I say it, it’s their sing along album, there are so many songs in here that are going to be instant crowd pleasers and capable of mass sing alongs it's incredible. Foremost is previous single 'the van' but it’s an album packed with brilliantly written songs and general vibe that’s a combination of the story telling of Springsteen, the coolness of Beck with a touch of the Hold Steady, a sprinkling of Billy Joel in his prime and a hint of the best bits of the Replacements all topped off with a unique style that is all their own. I know some of the references may surprise some people, but Bleachers are becoming the quintessential American bar band, and I mean that in a good way. If you walked into a bar, you’d hear the sound of story of being American, that’s a unique ability.

It is all 100% Bleachers however, that willingness to touch on different themes and feelings, the urge to be open and honest but also to make music that people can relate to. I’ve seen them live before and this is going to take their shows to a new level, go buy the tickets now.

I can see some outbreaks of dancing but also some mass group hugs coming up later this year while everyone bounces together and we all try to prove that we know the lyrics more than the next person.

It also works as an album you can just put on, sink into and decide that while all sorts of relationships, from romantic liaisons to that with the person you were going to change the world with, are complex but there is still some hope for us all and we might just make it after all, maybe just not the way we thought we would.

There are a number of standout tracks on this album, but I won’t name them as I think it’s a body of work that needs to be heard as a whole.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album it is one of those albums that every time you listen to it you hear something different, a new angle, a new lyric, a new saxophone or piano piece, the rhythm section taking over when you least expect it, which you didn’t pick up on before which means it’s an album that needs repeated plays.

One of the albums of the year? It’s a strong contender, time for them to graduate to stadiums. I’m not so sure about that as I think they work best at the O2 academy kind of level, but I wouldn’t mind seeing them in a bigger venue to see if they can pull it off, given how good they are I really wouldn’t want to bet against them.