The Lumineers: The Lumineers (Deluxe Edition)
The Lumineers
The Lumineers (Deluxe Edition)
(Dualtone Music Group, Inc.)
Of all the Americana bands to make it into the spotlight as of late, The Lumineers have had some of the greatest momentum. If you havenât heard âHo Heyâ yet, youâve probably hidden yourself under a rock, since itâs the sort of song you can sing along to before youâve heard the whole thing. This bandâs debut album has been earning acclaim for a year, but a new deluxe edition features five extra tracks, substantial video footage, and a stunning booklet.
First, for the meat of the record. The Lumineers excel by harnessing simplicity. From the vocals to the melodies, everything sounds timeless and organic. As the lyrics to âSubmarineâ describe discovering Japanese ships, the music descends into a complementary drum and piano battle. âSlow It Downâ is a slow, plaintive plea, while âBig Paradeâ is a clapping, upbeat tune that can produce a singalong just as easily as âHo Hey.â My top pick for the album is âMorning Song,â with the electric guitar taking unusual prominence. This is one of the longer tracks on the album, and itâs a tragic slow burn that highlights how melancholy this bandâs lyrics are.
Are the bonus songs worth it? If youâve ever seen this band live, youâd know that the answer is yes. âAinât Nobodyâs Problemâ is a jaunty barroom ditty, contrasting with the stripped-down cover of Talking Headsâ âThis Must Be The Place (NaĂŻve Melody).â âElouiseâ is a live staple, and the lyrics âLetâs be David Byrneâ refers back to âThis Must Be The Placeâ quite cleverly.
If youâre already a fan of The Lumineers, itâs worth checking out this extra content. If youâre not quite sure yet, the additional tunes will give you more of an insight into this bandâs live presenceâand their staying power.