On Jan. 14, The Lumineers released their newest studio album, “BRIGHTSIDE.” The nine song selection is full of feel-good tracks, with guitar-heavy verses and enjoyable yet emotional lyrics that speak to the tone of the pandemic.
Past songs like “Ophelia” and “Ho Hey” have topped the charts and made The Lumineers incredibly popular amongst indie fans, with the band amassing a large following by releasing four albums on the American independent record label Dualtone Records. Their first self-titled album, “The Lumineers,” released in 2012, skyrocketed to No. 2 in the U.S. Billboard 200, with their next album “Cleopatra” debuting at No. 1. The Lumineers were even nominated for Grammy awards in 2013, in the categories of “Best New Artist” and, for their debut album, “Best Americana Album.”
Their music shifts between genres seamlessly and brings multiple melodies together to produce warm sounds that hit home for many fans. The only way to describe their style would be an alternative indie rock with hints of folk influence and an Americana tone.
“Their music shifts between genres seamlessly and brings multiple melodies together”
“BRIGHTSIDE” has a cheerful and rhapsodic feel to it, with songs that describe love and hope through simple lyrics that still manage to embody the complexity of human emotions. It’s the kind of music one could dance alone in their room to at sunset with a can of sparkling apple cider in their hand. The songs have mostly uplifting tunes and share a hint of melancholy that appears to be a sign of the times these days. For many listeners, the album couldn’t have come at a better time.
The titular song, “BRIGHTSIDE,” is one of the album’s highlight. It speaks of a love full of complications and a couple growing to overcome them through the hopeful notion that humans can be good for each other when things get rough. The song carries on with the lyrics, “I’ll be your brightside, baby, tonight,” and solidifies itself as one of the best songs of the album.
Another highlight is “A.M. RADIO,” the album’s second song. It’s about pursuing one’s dreams and allowing life to take people where they need to be. The music video powerfully portrays a trio of teens struggling through high school and working towards their ambitions: one girl striving to be a ballerina, a boy practicing the guitar and another boy painting in his room through the night. It is a lovely message to younger generations and embodies the struggles every kid faces when trying to make their ambitions a reality.
Another success of the album is “REPRISE,” which is an extension of the album’s title song. The song is a somewhat jaunty tune with a tambourine ringing in the background and soft, sweet lyrics imbued with regret. It appears to reflect the style of not only “BRIGHTSIDE,” but of all of the songs in the album, while still adding subtle, hidden depths to the music. Overall, the album speaks of hope and enjoying the small moments people share with one another even in the midst of loss. This speaks to the overarching theme of the album, and this time during the pandemic.
“The album was such a nugget of joy and came at the time humanity needed it most”
The album was such a nugget of joy and came at the time humanity needed it most. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, it was blissful and euphoric, bringing back all the joy of youth and summer. The songs were simple but sweet, and while many of them were quite similar in tune and lyrics, the album as a whole was cohesive and well thought-out.
All in all, “BRIGHTSIDE” by the Lumineers is a solid 4 out of 5 stars, a joy to listen to and, for many, a lifeline in these troubling times.
