Brightside

by The Lumineers

Overview

After the ambitious, darkly thematic song cycle III, Brightside comes as something of a tonal reset for the Lumineers. Embracing a more spontaneous approach, the Denver indie folk duo lets their ragged edges show on a record that values the raw creative spark above all else. Recorded during two sessions in upstate New York with returning producer Simone Felice and engineer/co-producer David Baron, Brightside sees bandmates Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites harnessing their core energy over nine tracks that are somehow fresher and more rough-hewn than anything they'd previously released. Take for example "Birthday," an appealingly loose folk-pop jaunt which pauses mid-song for a bit of off-the-cuff in-studio applause or "Never Really Mine," a raw midtempo banger that relies almost entirely on a rhythm electric guitar before building into a cathartic roar on its final chorus. Most of the songs on Brightside have that same sense of scaled-down immediacy and it's a nice change from a band who, despite their minimalist format, have more or less existed as a stadium act over the previous decade. The easy melodic hooks that drew fans to the Lumineers in the first place remain, but the combination of stronger material and looser performances make for a strong fourth outing. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	01/14/2022
Label:	Dualtone Music
UPC:	0803020224940

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Lumineers   Primary Artist
Cindy Mizelle   Vocals (Background)
Alex Waterman   Cello
Byron Isaacs   Bass,Double Bass,Bass (Electric),Vocals (Background)
David Baron   Bass,Organ,Piano,Mellotron,Synthesizer
Diana Demuth   Vocals (Background)
Simone Felice   Maracas,Clapping,Tambourine,Vocals (Background)
James Felice   Vocals (Background)
Wesley Schultz   Guitar,Vocals,Clapping,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Lauren Jacobson   Violin,Vocals (Background)
Jeremiah Fraites   Drums,Piano,Clapping,Percussion,Tambourine,Glockenspiel,Bass (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Andrew Mendelson   Mastering Engineer
Jeremiah Fraites   Recording Arranger,Composer,Drum Programming
Bobbi Giel   Assistant Mastering Engineer
Taylor Chadwick   Assistant Mastering Engineer
Luke Armentrout   Assistant Mastering Engineer
Renee Hikari   Stage Engineer,Stage Assistant
Anthony Hook   Editing Assistant,Editorial Assistant
Brian Hubblen   Producer,Sound Supervision
Sara Full   Production Coordination
David Baron   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Simone Felice   Composer,Producer,Recording Arranger
Andrew Darby   Assistant Mastering Engineer
Rick Mullen   Producer,Sound Supervision
Derek Brown   Producer,Sound Supervision
Wesley Schultz   Composer,Recording Arranger