We’re Headed for the Lights: A Track-By-Track Review of The Lumineers’ New Album ‘BRIGHTSIDE’
Written by Alyssa Goldberg
The Lumineers have released their new album BRIGHTSIDE following a string of well-received singles over the course of the past few months. To fans of bands like Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers are the OGs for indie-folk music. Sitting on Dualtone, the same label as Mt. Joy and Shakey Graves, the once New Jersey, now Colorado-based folk rock band brings introspective music that explores heartbreak and the pursuit of feeling alive even through hardships and pain. If you don’t recognize them from “Sleep on the Floor” or “Ophelia,” you’ll surely remember their hit single “Ho Hey” that topped charts across the board after its release in 2012 and well into 2013.
Over two years ago, when The Lumineers released their third studio album III, my dad visited me at college for an evening and we attended their cinematic album premiere on The Rooftop at Pier 17. The band showed the film, did a brief Q&A panel, and played an acoustic set, which included a cover of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” against the Brooklyn Bridge in the background and a soft drizzle over our heads. Much has changed since September 2019, and new music from the band was much needed.
I listened to BRIGHTSIDE the same way I first listened to the singles released off The Lumineers’ fourth studio album: alone in my East Village apartment, lying in bed with AirPods plugged in. To me, that’s how The Lumineers music is meant to be first experienced, with room to feel your emotions as you move through the music. Yesterday morning, they sent out an email to longtime fans giving us an exclusive first listen to the album. So, using the pre-release link, I played the album in full at 11:00pm, only an hour before the general public had access on all streaming sites. At midnight, my sister––who listened to the full Santa Barbara live set on her own months earlier––and I are celebrating its release and screaming over the hard-hitting lyrics and notes in “BIRTHDAY.”
When I first listened to the single “BRIGHTSIDE” back in September, I was slightly disappointed. It didn’t carry the same authenticity I felt previous albums had, and I was worried that I wouldn’t love this album the way in which I’ve cherished the others. As “BIG SHOT” and “A.M. RADIO '' were released, these worries began to fade and I felt that “heart-sinking feeling,” as I like to call it. The full album only proves that yet again, The Lumineers have produced an album that can be a soundtrack to one's own love, loss, and perseverance. “My favorite albums are born out of pain and trauma that are somehow able to resonate down the road. That is what we hope to do with BRIGHTSIDE,” said lead vocalist Wesley Schultz in an interview with Atwood Magazine.
The album starts with their singles, the title-track “BRIGHTSIDE” and “A.M. RADIO.” The third and fourth tracks, “WHERE WE ARE” and “BIRTHDAY,” are what begin to hit the hardest. Track three, “WHERE WE ARE” brings the first new song, with a beautiful piano melody played by Jeremiah Fraites.
“WHERE WE ARE” was written about a car crash suffered by Schultz and his wife ten years ago, where they hydroplaned going 70mph and flew off the road. Though bleeding, they made it out of the car, and people approaching them thought they had died, but Schultz was just smoking a cigarette. “The whole car wreck felt like a metaphor for how the world came to a screeching halt suddenly and we were left to pick up the pieces,” said Schultz on a Spotify story for the track. “WHERE WE ARE” is one of the rawer songs on the album, bringing simple harmonies paired with a strong chorus. The song gives a message of hope, with the repeating lyrics, “Where we are / I don’t know where we are / but it’ll be okay.”
Currently, my favorite track is “BIRTHDAY,” an upbeat song that reminds listeners to keep carrying on. It’s a reminder that even in the most difficult times, there’s still kindness in the world and celebrations to be had. Next, following their single “BIG SHOT,” “NEVER REALLY MINE” explores letting go of a person who never belonged to you in the first place. During their Santa Barbara Bowl performance in September, Schultz called the track the “Lumineers version of rock and roll.” There’s more of an alt-vibe on this track, possibly a bit of twang to the vocals. It’s hard to let go of someone you care for or desperately want to keep, as seen in their echoing lyrics, “Hey, don’t you fade, don’t you fade away.” The song ends sharply, like the abrupt conclusion to one of these relationships that have lingered on for too long.
“ROLLERCOASTER” holds the most similar sound to songs off their previous album III, seeming to address a situation from the outside. The track is evocative with an enchanting piano background, with somber feelings of longing and reflection for darker days seeping through. This is paired with the band’s classic messaging of knowing that you’ve made it through a difficult experience, despite how fast – or slowly – you had to run. The lyrics “Sitting on a rollercoaster / Hanging on for dear life” matches recurring themes of perseverance throughout the album. The second to last track “REMINGTON” is the slowest song on the album and almost feels like a ballad or interlude.
“REPRISE” is the perfect culmination to what the band is referring to as their best album yet, as it successfully bridges the songs together from across the album. The riff is similar to “BIRTHDAY,” but the lyrics “I’m heading for the brightside baby tonight” pull from the title-track and opener “BRIGHTSIDE”. The song hints at life looking up despite these haunting chords, describing someone leaving a hurtful situation to put themselves first. “Everyone’s a friend now and then,” but you need to head towards the light and protect yourself.
What may be disappointing to fans is the lack of a cinematic album, a beautiful component of The Lumineers’ previous album, III, that was crucial in their storytelling success. As for another potential complaint, the album is only 30 minutes, half the length of III. III, however, to me, was something magical. The Lumineers haven’t lost their spark, it’s just hard to top perfection. BRIGHTSIDE is exploratory, and showcases a carefree side to The Lumineers’ musicality. Their growth as artists is apparent, and I predict tracks off this album will be topping charts throughout the weeks following its release.
Stream BRIGHTSIDE out NOW on all streaming platforms.
