10 years after the release of their debut album Strange Desire, Bleachers released their self-titled fourth album. Since the release of their first album, lead singer of Bleachers, Jack Antonoff, has had tremendous success in producing award-winning albums with other artists. Though the band’s earlier work centered around the topic of grief, as Antonoff’s sister Sarah died of cancer when he was 18, Bleachers focuses more on the present and maintains a rather optimistic tone. Here are my three personal favorites from the album:

1. “Woke Up Today”: Before I even finished listening to this song all the way through, I knew it was going to be my favorite off of the album. The simplicity of the acoustic guitar and soft backing vocals give a lovely contrast to the more instrument-focused tracks on the album. The vulnerability in lyrics such as, “‘Cause I see the whole world in you, babe” and “And I’ll make your bed, I’ll make your home” in combination with Antonoff’s delicate falsetto make this song a masterpiece. I have listened to it on repeat for a while and have yet to get tired of it. 
2. “Tiny Moves”: Confirmed by Antonoff to be about his wife, Margaret Qualley, “Tiny Moves” explores the concepts of love and healing through the use of upbeat melodies and a catchy chorus. As Qualley stars in the music video for the song, Antonoff displays his genuine love for her every movement, as the video consists solely of him admiring her dance. The purity of the music video has helped make the song one of my favorites, as I have watched it at least 20 times since it was released. 
3. “Modern Girl”: Although the lyrics of this track are far from my favorites on the album, the ‘80s vibe from the saxophone heard throughout the song is the main reason that “Modern Girl” makes my list. As I am a firm believer that any song with the use of a saxophone is at least a B+, the odd lyrics in each verse keep me from enjoying the song fully. With this being said, I think that making this the second track on the album was a fantastic decision, as it gives the perfect preview into the upcoming diversity of the album.

Even though I have not always been a fan of Jack Antonoff’s production on tracks for other artists such as Taylor Swift and The 1975, I believe that Bleachers perfectly captures both a nostalgic sound as well as a newer style. After listening to the album, I will definitely be diving deeper into Bleachers’ older albums and I look forward to their future projects.