Cleopatra

Cleopatra

by The Lumineers
Cleopatra

Cleopatra

by The Lumineers

Compact Disc

$17.99 
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Overview

Maybe the Lumineers got tired of hearing other bands replicate the big-footed stomp of "Ho Hey," an aesthetic that was impossible to avoid in the wake of their eponymous 2012 debut. So many bands adopted this thunderous folk that it no longer seemed to belong to the Lumineers; it appeared communal, perhaps existing to the earlier generations the Lumineers so clearly loved yet never quite replicated. Given this omnipresence, maybe it's not a surprise that the trio avoid any semblance of infectious rhythms on Cleopatra, their long-awaited second album, yet the sobriety of this 2016 affair is striking. Melancholy and sullen, Cleopatra feels like a conscious reaction to the idea that the band was merely a boisterous retro-throwback, a band that existed primarily on the surface. Apart from the lead single "Ophelia" and "Cleopatra," this sophomore set avoids tempos that could be called sprightly, and melody comes second to mood as well. Sometimes, the Lumineers are quite effective at being evocative: there's a certain dusky shimmer to the album, an atmosphere that tends to hang as heavy as fog as the record rolls along. This sequencing, where the relatively hookier tunes are pushed toward the front, is typical in the 21st century -- albums are front-loaded to pull in casual listeners, making the bet that the serious fans will stick around for the serious stuff that arrives at the end of the record -- but this also robs Cleopatra of velocity, with whatever energy there was dissipating by the album's conclusion, when the record winds down with its quietest moments. Nevertheless, there's something admirable about the album's solemnity: the Lumineers are on a quest to be taken seriously, and even if they overplay their hand, the earnestness is ingratiating. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date: 04/08/2016
Label: Dualtone Music
UPC: 0803020173828
Rank: 4510

Tracks

  1. Sleep on the Floor
  2. Ophelia
  3. Cleopatra
  4. Gun Song
  5. Angela
  6. In the Light
  7. Gale Song
  8. Long Way From Home
  9. Sick in the Head
  10. My Eyes
  11. Patience

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Lumineers   Primary Artist
Byron Isaacs   Bass,Vocals
David Baron   Keyboards
Simone Felice   Percussion
Neyla Pekarek   Cello,Vocals
Wesley Schultz   Guitar,Vocals
Lauren Jacobson   Strings
Jeremiah Fraites   Drums,Piano

Technical Credits

Abraham Hovey   Composer
Ryan Hewitt   Engineer,Mixing
Simone Felice   Composer,Producer
Rick Mullen   Guitar Technician
Neyla Pekarek   Composer,Group Member
Wesley Schultz   Composer,Group Member
Jeremiah Fraites   Composer,Group Member
Chad Cuttill   Mixing Assistant
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
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