The Lumineers’ fifth album, “Automatic,” is out and it was an automatic joy!

Now, my experience with these Denver folk-rockers is limited, with their hit “Ophelia” being the only track I regularly revisit. But,  I’ve gravitated toward alternative/indie and folk genres recently, so listening to a full-fledged album from them was an easy transition. 

Their 11-track album runs a bit short at 33 minutes. I will say that some tracks sound quite similar in the beginning. Their melodies resembled each other and often made me feel like listening to the same songs at times. But, midway through, tracks like “Automatic,” “You’re All I Got,” and “Plasticine” made an impression of me — especially the latter (an instant favorite). 

The more I listened, the more I enjoyed the songs I initially thought blended together. This was an album that required more than one listen to fully appreciate. 

As I mentioned, I don’t have knowledge of their discography, but this album helped me better understand their sound both sonically and lyrically.

Their songwriting is visceral, with vivid lyrics that paint a picture behind your eyelids as you take in the almost-ballad-like musings. 

The mixing is stripped down — unlike “Ophelia,” it’s more intimate and clear. I enjoyed it, especially in combination with lyrics that explore the fine line between reality and illusion. 

Wesley Schultz, guitarist and lead vocalist, said the album was 20 years in the making, a culmination of songwriting between him and Jeremiah Fraites, co-founder of The Lumineers and songwriter. He described it as an exploration of “some of the absurdities of the modern world” and “the variety of ways we numb ourselves while trying to combat both boredom and overstimulation.”

Tracks like “Automatic,” “Sunflowers” and “Same Old Song” exemplify that theme.

This album was a joy to hear (despite the slow start) and I can’t wait to explore more of their sound from their earlier projects.

Categories: Arts & Entertainment