Album Review: The Lumineers

In a world filling up with Americana rock, The Lumineers are unmistakably leaving their footprint on the indie landscape. Their recently released self titled debut is surprisingly upbeat in its musings of unrequited love and inevitability of loss.  Lead singer Wesley Keith sings with earnestness, much like that of David Gray and Jeff Buckley.  The music is ripe with clapping tambourines, peppy strings, and swelling keys.  And when it quiets down, it’s a resigned melancholy.

Credit: Lumineers

The lyrics and delivery are memorable, to say the least.  They paint the portraits of bar scenes and crumbling relationships. They are filled with adoration and frustration with static circumstances.  Also, despite the band’s less than glamorous experience with New York City, there is a shout out to the Lower East Side in their catchy-doesn’t-do-it-justice tune “Ho Hey.” It may even make you want to book a trip to Hawaii and dance around a campfire…or use Bing.

Many bands have recently surfaced with this knee slapping, background chanting, acoustic (for the most part) folksy goodness, but where The Lumineers distinguish themselves is in their subtleties.  Each song stands on its own, which is why they are likened to, but shouldn’t be lumped in with, bands like the Avett Brothers, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, or Mumford and Sons.

Ultimately, the album is hopeful – let’s hope there’s more where that came from.

-Written by Holly Louise Perry