Turnpike Glow try to find their sound
The theme of 1986 is that of, apparently, 'a relationship coming to its end amongst the heaviest snow fall in Rome since 1986' (see where the song gets its name from?). Two out of five members of Turnpike Glow are actually from Rome, so it doesn't seem as out of place as it perhaps could, although there's no danger of accusations of subtlety here - mentions of snow are frequent, and 'the heavy snow / to fall in Rome / since 1986' is repeated throughout the chorus.
Sometimes this can sound a little contrived, a little too much telling and not enough showing perhaps, and the relationship comments are all too familiar - although the 'end of a relationship' ground is so well-trodden in songs that it could be difficult for them not to be. The overall chirpiness manages to pull the song away from becoming too steeped in cliche, and the snowfall theme is sometimes a pleasant quirk.
The incessantly high-pitched vocals can sometimes be a little grating, and it's altogether more enjoyable on the softer parts. That's not to say that the song isn't worth a listen as it certainly is - the hooks are catchy enough to leave you humming them all day and the punchy drums give enough of a drive for the infectious melody to take hold.
Straddling the line between indie pop and electro, the only issue is the lack of any real signature sound - Turnpike Glow are still experimenting with their style, and don't yet seem entirely comfortable in their own skin. Still, there's no doubt that it'll be interesting to see where they go from there.