American folk rock duo The Lumineers went a long way that took them from New York to Denver before breaking through in the early 10s with the upbeat Ho Hey. And although no hit of the same caliber followed, they remained a flagship of thriving American rock and roots music. To their credit, Wesley Schultz (vocals, guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (piano, drums) choose first and foremost for quality
… music, without aiming for hits. The penultimate album III (2019) was even a somberly themed record about the social consequences of alcoholism. Brightside seems to be another response to this and is (the title gives it away) remarkably brisk and upbeat in tone. In energetic songs that are never short of catchy choruses, Schultz sings of the sunnier sides of life with his slightly broken, melodic voice this time. The Lumineers thus gloriously maintain their status as a band that can sound both catchy and lived-in. (MR)more
