Bleachers
Strange Desire (RCA)
Reviewed by Luke Winkie, Fri., Oct. 3, 2014
Bleachers
Strange Desire (RCA)
If the name Bleachers hints at a rough and tumble garage-punk band in the modern tradition of Ty Segall, the fidgety indie rock of "I Wanna Get Better" and widescreen, Robert Smith-aping goth-pop bombshell "Rollercoaster" will disabuse you of that notion. Fun guitarist Jack Antonoff was finishing up his day job's extensive world tour last year when Strange Desire made it onto tape in secret. It doesn't sound like an afterthought. Deep cuts like the seasick "Take Me Away," which features a spellbound Grimes stalking the chorus, and "You're Still a Mystery," maybe the biggest love song his main band never wrote, crackle equal parts microscopic twee and universe-swallowing, John Hughes power. Jack Antonoff has figured out how to write an album all by himself. (3:15pm, Miller Lite stage)
