Girl power takes over Bleachers’ “Strange Desire”

Krista D’Archi ’18 / Emertainment Monthly Contributor
Copy Edited By: Lindsay Simmons ’19

Terrible Thrills, Vol. 2 is an album covered by some of pop music’s biggest names, all of whom are women!

Jack Antonoff, frontman of Bleachers, released a new version of the band’s hit album Strange Desire that features female artists in his place. The album was released on September 25 as a free download on Google Play, and is now available on Spotify as well. Some of the singers on the album are Sara Bareilles, Charli XCX, Sia, and Natalie Maines.

“I love female voices. I wish I had one,” Antonoff wrote on the Bleachers Facebook page. “When I write songs I typically hear things in a female voice and then match it an octave lower so I can hit the notes.”

This remade version of the album is what he originally imagined; female voices overpowering headphones and record players nationwide. It almost makes fans wish he did this in the first place. The original version of the album is genius, especially knowing that the keys and octaves had to be rewritten for the band, but there’s something about the pairing of each female artist with their respective songs that is perfectly matched.

Besides the obvious change in vocals, the instrumentals in each song vary as well. Elle King did a cover of “Reckless Love,” which contained a new soft acoustic strumming in the background along with her chill-inducing vocals. “I Wanna Get Better,” the lead single that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Charts, was portrayed by Tinashe. To enhance her unique style, the song now has more of a hip-hop beat to it with longer instrumental pauses and sound effects.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqW_zEzyAM8[/embedyt]

The title of this album and its concept in general was inspired by another one of Antonoff’s albums. Six years ago, Antonoff was the front man of a different band, Steel Train. After the third album Steel Train put out, he pulled the stunt he now pulled with Bleachers. A second album was released featuring all female artists titled Terrible Thrills, Vol. 1. “The Terrible Thrills concept is something I see being a thread through different bands and projects I do,” wrote Antonoff. “It’s nonspecific to any band or record—it just speaks to the way I hear music.”

That being said, it’s safe to expect a Volume 3 to accompany the next album Antonoff releases. As for Volume 2, get it while it’s available and free! Other artists on the album include Carly Rae Jepsen, Lucius, Brooke Candy, Rachel Antonoff, MØ, and Susanna Hoffs. It’s a great remake with a great backstory, and it only made Bleachers fans love them more.