On April 8th, The Lumineers released their sophomore album titled Cleopatra, which has made its way to number one album on Billboard 200.
The folk-rock band’s album comes after a four-year drought since its last album. Cleopatra is filled with a combination of stories and poems. Many of the songs start with a soft melody or guitar and builds to a catchy chorus that makes you want to listen to a song on repeat for a while.
The song “Ophelia” has a beat that forces you to jive along with the music. The song tells the story of a boy who has been in love with Ophelia for a long time however she does not feel the same way. It is written like a short poem and emphasizes the chorus. The lyrics, “Oh-Ophelia, you’ve been on my mind girl since the flood/Oh-Ophelia, heaven help a fool who falls in love” will no doubt remain in your mind long after the song has ended.
The next song on the album shifts from a poem to a short narrative and is the title track “Cleopatra”. For those looking to hear a sample of what kind of music the Lumineers sing, look no further than this track. It essentially summarizes the overall feel of the whole album. It mixes slow beats with a memorable chorus all the while sharing a deeply personal story. One thing that cannot be denied is the lyrics do a fantastic job of connecting you to the music through story telling.
“Patience” rounds out the album with a simple piano melody that feels as a gentle goodbye to the listener. It repeats a simple up and down the scale tune that ends way to soon. After listening to the one minute and 38 second coda, a satisfying feeling will overcome you as the album comes to an end.
The more I listen to the album I realize how personal the lyrics are. Many of the songs have narratives of stories that as a listener you cannot help but be mesmerized. This album has all of the components necessary to become the album that you often play in the back ground when you’re inside studying for finals during a spring rain.
Songs to listen to: “Cleopatra,” “Angela” and “Patience.”
