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On The Walk Home From Work Bleacher’s Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night
By Charissa Lock
It’s Saturday and there’s a party. You’re not sure what street it’s on, but it’s definitely close enough to feel the vibrations travel up the soles of your sandals into your knees. Circling around to catch the whaling saxophone at a greater volume, the wind subtly blows in just the right direction. One block, maybe two. And you moving increasingly quickly despite how tired you were when you woke up this morning. There it is, this time drums are causing mini explosions and a wave of gang vocals barreling down the next corner. Your pace quickens, the FOMO is hitting and your endorphins are tipping the scales. “Heeeyyy, lonely wants to stay forever, but tonight we’re gonna do a little better…” Bright orange and red lights blur your eyes, and the readjustment leaves you staring up at a full band, on top of a makeshift stage. Enough of a crowd to bounce energy around, but not too much where you’re unable to witness the performance. Suddenly the band backs off, leaving the guitar, soft percussion, and that sax which so grippingly stole your attention earlier. A call and response plays between the instruments for a while, vocals chiming here and there until the building begins. “Let’s…Go…” and suddenly the sax collides with everything and everyone else on stage. Wildly throwing up your arms and dropping your head back, “Waiiiit, lonely wants to tear us down now, but tonight we’re gonna drown the sound out….” The pressure has erupted and you’re thankful for the taste of unapologetic freedom you’re experiencing after having dealt with the monotony and frustrations of the day. The negative energy hurtles from your body as you can only truly feel this moment cursing through your bones. Knocking you from your euphoria, an organized “Hush!” is called out, and sudden blackness envelopes your senses.
Besides the lyrical play-by-play, such a scenario could fit more than half of the songs on this record. The others carry you through catchy and delicate sing-alongs, though sometimes so softly that the vulnerability feels as if you’re watching something not meant for you. Together with the influences coming most obviously from the Springsteen, and less obviously the likes of Buddy Holly (definite “Peggy Sue” vibes on “Big Life”), and Vampire Weekend (“How Dare You Want More”’s transition humming from the instrumental chorus on “Mansard Roof”) alongside the piles of others you can find peeking and thumping throughout. To be placed in the books as a must-listen to record, Bleachers has pulled off another amazing album to add to their list of hits.