The Lumineers: Brightside [DUALTONE]

Why you'll love it

This Dualtone LP holds the band's fourth album, nine songs played almost entirely by Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites. It drew generally favourable reviews, with a Metacritic score of 72.

About the album

There's a studio called Sun Mountain in Boiceville, in upstate New York, and in the winter and spring of 2021 it became the Lumineers' home away from home. Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites went to David Baron's place with Simone Felice, who had produced Cleopatra and III, and came out with Brightside. The title track was cut in a single day.

They played most of it themselves, Schultz on vocals and guitars, Fraites on piano, drums, Rhodes, glockenspiel and a lot else besides, with Baron adding synths, Hammond and mellotron. "Where We Are" and "Birthday" lean into big, open-hearted melodies, "Never Really Mine" and "Rollercoaster" are quieter and more searching, and "Remington" leads into the closing "Reprise." Lauren Jacobson's violin and Alex Waterman's cello thread through the record, with Byron Isaacs on bass and a backing choir that includes James Felice of the Felice Brothers, Diana DeMuth and Cindy Mizelle.

It's a short, warm, nine-song album that sounds made by two old friends in a room. The credits also thank the Palenville Firehouse for its siren, the first instrument we know of that comes with its own fire engine.

Also at Kops: more The Lumineers on vinyl · browse Alternative

Tracklist

Listen

On Dualtone, the 2022 album.