I picked up a couple of other new releases just last week, as I was chronicling the other four. It’s been a banner month for new music here at Meet Me In Montauk.

Bleachers is the new band fronted by Jack Antonoff, best known as the lead guitarist of fun. Their debut album, Strange Desire, has produced one hit single so far — the blisteringly catchy ‘I Wanna Get Better.’

Most of Strange Desire lives up to the promise of that track. I read a review that described this music as written for the “credits of a John Hughes movie” and I can’t think of a more apt description. The influences here are completely 1980s… thing Duran Duran, The Thompson Twins, Depeche Mode.

And throw in a great big kiss for Bruce Springsteen on the song ‘Rollercoaster,’ a real highlight.

Bleachers wear their influences on their sleeve but they don’t feel derivative. This is a fresh and exciting sound, even as it looks back with fondness. And let’s face it, if you’re going to channel an era on a pop album, the 80s are the era to channel.

I did say “most” of the album works, and that’s because the record loses steam after its 6th track. The final four songs are experimental, forgettable or both. The album reminds me of Haim’s debut in that way — a handful of really great songs and a few for the recycling bin.

But in the singles era, six great songs are plenty.

http://youtu.be/oJHxk-P3q8w