Bleachers are back with more Jersey rock. Jack Antonoff’s project lets him let off steam in Springsteen-esque tracks designed for guitar-god sweaty performances. And nothing wrong with that. Although he hasn’t surpassed the pinnacle that was Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night yet this is a solid collection of tracks. Antonoff is pushing the boundaries of what a Bleachers record is.
Most reaction has been to note that this is one of the band’s most energetic albums. It’s absolutely filled with what we love – the “sax-soaked New Jersey sound”. It has been criticised for being too full on, and Paste magazine comments: “he channels this discomfort and his desire to move through it into his most ambitious and unrestrained work to date, yet the record is still frustratingly unable to fully shake off some of its most formulaic impulses.” That review deftly describes how the album reflects Antonoff’s frustration with the attention economy and toxic online comments on his music and private life. The album’s title evokes this – its inspired by the Apple Airdrop setting that allows anyone to send you something.
Singles “the van” and “you and forever” are good toe tappers but for us the highlight was a quiet ballad “I’m not joking”.
New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen on our website - https://www.nznetradio.net.nz/listen
