Written by Asher Evermon, Staff Writer
Young love, heartbreak, and the urge of adventure.
Lead singer Jack Antonoff unexpectedly announced his newest band Bleachers in May of 2013. During this time, he was still on tour with the band Fun and was secretly working on an album that very few knew about.
Officially released on July 10, 2014, Strange Desires was instantly a hit, reaching No. 2 on U.S Alternative and U.S Rock charts.
The album presented mostly ‘80s and early ‘90s beats and lyrics, influenced by high school based films. Antonoff also managed to modernize the album, giving it a nostalgic feeling that warms the souls of all ages.
Strange Desires was known for its hit single “I Wanna Get Better” which was played on multiple radio stations and reached No. 1 on U.S. alternative charts. Many people looked over the album as an entirety and missed out on the beautiful complexion of the rest of the songs.
Right off the bat,“Wild Heart” begins the album with a slow melodic pacing that soon turns into a roaring chorus with boom- ing instrumentals. Almost every song follows this formula of mellow verses turned into a screaming chorus that invites you to sing right along.
Antonoff doesn’t only present his wonderful choruses but also has a story to tell with each and every song. These stories almost force you to fantasize as if you were there yourself and living in this ‘80s teenage life.
In “Rollercoaster,” Antonoff shows the influences of a nostalgic high school love story with lyrics that speak of running away, staying out late, and making the most of being young. While in “I Wanna Get Better,” Antonoff speaks of his 18-year-old self that was heartbroken, experienced death, and was on a lost path trying to nd himself.
Throughout the album you realize Antonoff is trying to em- brace what it is to be a teenager. From every up and down our younger selves experience, he portrays them in a way that makes it sound like we are all living in our own movie.
Strange Desires feels like you just took a time machine back to the ‘80s of high school.
You are the geek in the movie who is heartbroken, lonely, and looking for love.Each song embraces you with empowering choruses and heartbreaking lyrics and leaves you with a strange feel- ing that urges you to desire more. 5/5