To the delight of indie folk music listeners everywhere, The Lumineers released their fifth studio album “Automatic” on Feb. 14. A Valentine’s Day gift from the beloved “Ho Hey” band, this album was a treat to listen to.
The Lumineers have a very specific sound that I think most people can recognize instantaneously. It is a mix of up-beat and slowed acoustic guitar with drum heavy sounds — the kind of music that will inevitably be put on during your summer bonfire. This album has all of that and more. The lyrics provide a brilliant emotion-filled journey through the 11 songs, and did not disappoint in the slightest.
The album opens with “Same Old Song,” and right off the bat the vibe of the album is set. The drums come in heavy, shortly followed by vocals. The chorus repeats the lyrics, “Same old song / We sing the same old song” and in a way, I like to think the band is saying “We’re here, we’re back and we’re singing just as loudly as before.”
“Automatic” continues the story with songs seemingly dedicated to a lover. This song and “Asshole” are desperate internal reflections of how a person feels after a lost relationship. “Automatic” repeats, “Oh, lover, is it ever gonna be enough? / Oh, my lover, is it ever gonna be enough? / Oh, my lover, is it ever gonna be enough?” with a building piano sound in the background. A soul-crushing display of feeling lost in a relationship and then out of one.
One of — if not my favorite track from this album — is “Keys on the Table.” This song is so beautiful, and the vocals paired with the instrumentals and lyrics made me cry the first time I listened to it. I have yet to be able to fully crack this song. I feel as though it could be about a lot of things. Possibly a family member, lost to some kind of bad influence. It could also be about a struggling relationship where someone walks away.
The chorus sings, “And if you’ve lost the faith, boy / Leave your keys up on the table / Evеrybody knows, everybody knows / Scared you had a bad hеart / And you’re sleeping in the carpark.” The uncertainty of what’s to come next with this person is evident, and then the desperation peaks through as the lyrics continue, “Everybody knows you’re all I got / You’re all I got.”
The album concludes with the track “So Long.” This track very much feels like advice from the band regarding relationships. It is a goodbye and a message wrapped in one: “Find yourself the lover / Give it to another like I did / Don’t know ‘til you try it.”
This album was everything I could have asked for from The Lumineers. Devastating, yet danceable tunes with lyrics that will make you think about your life for a while. It is always a good time when I am reminded how beautiful the indie folk genre is and why I love it so much.
5/5 stars
oparisi@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @thelumineers, Instagram
