I don't know what Bleach's obsession with the sky above is, but they do tend to think about the heavens a bit. Their first cd was titled "Space" and now, for thier fifth cd, they bring us "Astronomy". Thier first three cds were for the contemporary pop/rock label, Forefront Records. As a result they sounded like washed up alternative. Then a few years ago they signed with the alternative rock label, Tooth and Nail. Now they are able to release albums with a harder edge. Thier first cd with Tooth and Nail was the aptly titled "Again, For the First Time". It romps along with songs that sound like geek rock meets punk. Bleach has not yet learned how to be subltly nerdy. They rocked out with heart, resulting in a catchy and listenable album. Now they bring us "Astronomy". It follows the same general path as "Again..." with the rock n roll. However, it also features a couple more ballad type songs.

The album opens with the piano-driven "Patience", one of the ballads. It's ok, I guess, however I don't listen to Bleach to be serenaded to sleep by a slow song. Bring on the rock, boys! They answer my cry by following with "Get Up" and "December", two of the better tracks of the record.

They ruin the flow by throwing "Jaded Now", a long, slow, acoustic ditty in there at track 5. Nothing like gaining momentum only to screech to a halt, eh? The track which follows it is more of a classic Bleach sound which throws back to Weezer and such. But still not the all out rock that made "Again, For the First Time" such a success.

Bleach took three years between albums three and four, but number five follows a year after Again, For The First Time, featuring the same lineup. Brothers Milam (guitars) and Jared (drums) Byers, along with the rest of Bleach, decided to dedicate the CD to their brother, Captain Josh Byers, serving in Iraq. Josh was a huge Bleach fan, sharing their music with his fellow soldiers, and even covering a poster of Saddam with a Bleach sticker. Milam wrote Tired Heart after hearing from Josh's wife about the stresses his brother was going through as he saw men under his command die in combat:

Peace be still / I am with you / Rest in me for one more night / Replace your tired heart with mine/ So I'll sing songs of life / for all these broken hearts / just like mine / And I'll lay down / all this pride / so I can hear you whisper / that it's all right

Then on July 23, Josh was killed in battle. Bleach was shaken by the news, but decided that their CD and tour would be devoted to sharing about Josh and how God works in tough times. As lead singer Davey Baysinger says, "When things don't appear to be working out, or when hard times come, you have to remember that there's a purpose and reason to life and to the world. Sometimes you have to learn it through the hard times, like we have, but learning to hope is what takes you through the next day."

Astronomy makes it clear that relationships must be a priority. The title track proclaims:

i hope that you can / understand there are reasons beyond ours / the creator holds the stars up in the sky / but you are by far the bright and shining star / in the sky tonite

Astronomy is for fans of Bleach and fast-paced, guitar-oriented rock and roll. Fans of a Weezer-style sound will enjoy the CD. There are some mild moments, such as Patience and Tired Heart, but most of this CD rocks.