I should preface this article by saying that this article is a few weeks overdue because of the high quality of this album. I wanted time to process it all before I took on the task of writing about it. So without further ado, here it is.
Four years after their first album, the Lumineers' release of "Cleopatra" on April 8 of this year was a highly anticipated event. Fans awaiting this album were curious, and some even speculative about whether the group would keep the distinct, relaxed grunge sound of the first album. Luckily for all of us listeners, the Lumineers are back on "Cleopatra" with everything that we love about them, and a few fresh elements that can only expand the audience base.
First, we heard the single “Ophelia." One of the first things that stood out to me upon listening to that song was the heavy reliance on the piano as the main instrument carrying the song along, much like the song “Submarines” from their previous album. Overall, the upbeat nature of the song made me look forward to hearing the rest of the album even more.
A great thing about "Cleopatra"—and the Lumineers’ music in general—is the ability it has to transcend many different moods and be the type of music that just fits. From studying and needing some sound to drown out background noise, to driving around on a beautiful day with the windows down, to sitting around a close group of friends late at night and singing along, this album is the new go-to for so many scenarios. The title track “Cleopatra” takes on a more upbeat feel, setting the theme for the album as a whole. Even though there are slow tracks on this album, they contrast from the first in that the emotions in the song seem more casual and hopeful instead of brooding. To be clear, I’m not claiming that the entire album includes a variety of happy upbeat tunes to bounce around to. Some of the pure and raw emotion that was saw the Lumineers give off in the first album, especially in “Slow It Down,” comes out in “My Eyes” from Cleopatra in a way that seems older and more mature. It’s always exciting to see an artist grow.
Another great thing about the "Cleopatra" is the number of new songs we have as listeners and fans. Many artists will release albums with fewer amounts of songs than their debut albums had, however, on iTunes, Spotify, and other music providers, "Cleopatra" has 11 new songs on the regular version of the album and 16 on the deluxe edition. In terms of new singles, it is in fact the more the merrier for the Lumineers. Each track adds another chapter to the story that is "Cleopatra" and that we can piece together from absorbing this album like excited sponges.
For the dedicated Lumineers fan, this album is great. It answers all the questions we have generated and fills some areas we did not realize were missing. If you haven’t spent much time listening to The Lumineers before, you definitely need to get on it, and "Cleopatra" is the perfect place to start.
