Saved Your Seat

It is indeed Finetuned Wednesday, friends! This week we are talking about a top five favorite band for me, by one of my favorite musical minds. This week is all about Bleachers. Let’s GET INTO IT!

Who Are Bleachers?

Bleachers is an American indie pop band formed by Jack Antonoff in 2014. Antonoff, best known as the guitarist for “fun.” and a former member of “Steel Train”, is the sole official member of Bleachers, though he does collaborate with various musicians for live performances and recordings. Arguably, the band has other members in the group like Evan Smith on horns and keys, and Zem Audu on a variety of instruments - among others in the group as well.

Other Work & Collaborations

Jack Antonoff is also a highly sought-after producer and songwriter, working with artists such as Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Lorde, St. Vincent, and The 1975. His production style has significantly influenced modern pop music.

Bleachers is known for high-energy live performances and intimate, storytelling-driven songwriting that resonates with fans who appreciate nostalgic yet fresh-sounding pop-rock. They are a bucket-list group for me. I truly do not think there will ever be enough music from them for me. In addition to this, there is just no world in which I could see them live “too much”!

What To Expect Sonically

Bleachers' music blends indie pop, synth-pop, and new instrumentswave, drawing inspiration from 1980s pop and rock acts like Bruce Springsteen, Depeche Mode, and the E Street Band. The sound is often characterized by anthemic choruses, nostalgic synths, and deeply personal lyrics. You can feel this quite heavily through every release.

1. "Strange Desire" (2014) – Debut album featuring hits like "I Wanna Get Better" and "Rollercoaster".

2. "Gone Now" (2017) – Included tracks such as "Don't Take the Money" and "I Miss Those Days". (This is by far my favorite album, it is an 11/10)

3. "Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night" (2021) – Featuring "Stop Making This Hurt" and "Chinatown" (feat. Bruce Springsteen).

4. "Bleachers" (2024) – Self-titled album with songs like "Modern Girl".

Bleachers music is so beautifully crafted and carefully executed. It is a warm hug! I cannot emphasize enough how much you should listen to them. Jack is an absolute GEM and mastermind of music.

I’m Screaming Every Word… From The Bleachers

This record is a beautiful masterpiece and a culmination of sound that creates such an atmospheric vibe that rings true to every emotion I’ve felt. This group, and this music, is on a whole other level to that of others I’ve ever heard. This record is a masterpiece, listen, please. After that, dive into Gone Now from 2017. You’re welcome.

Thanks for reading here, Finetuners! I do hope you all have enjoyed this week’s Finetuned. I’d appreciate any insights, admiration, or otherwise. You can reply to the newsletter directly or DM me on Twitter. (or email me here: [email protected])

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See you all in the next one! 🙌