The Lumineers exist in a genre that is tough to define. I suppose they are mostly folk. But then they take the stories from country and combine them with the simple melodies of a coffee house scene. In many songs, the band seems to hold back so much for the sake of being catchy, memorable and ultimately better; it is evidenced in short choruses, short songs and genius lyrics. Being their first CD, the taste of their music is refreshing and exciting. Being as it borders on being overly simple, I wonder if they can carry the catchiness of their tunes into their second album, whenever they decide to release it. Oh well, let's get into the standout songs.
The album begins with "Flowers in Your Hair" a steady, slightly upbeat tune that contrasts childhood and adulthood. It explores memories and the emotions that they associate, coming to the chorus "Be in my eyes, be in my heart.” It repeats once and then moves to the next verse. The simplicity and short breadth demonstrates the restrained creativity that makes up the album.
“All the things we said, we were self assured.
Cause its a long road to wisdom, but a short one to being ignored.”
Classy Girls is a song rooted in country music, and opens to the sounds of a small town bar scene that continue to play through the first verse as he sings out the story of trying to pick up a girl from a bar who is continually rejecting him physically, but continues to spend the night hanging out with him. It starts out chill, then just turns into a cheerful comedy of sorts. The song is more humorous than it is anything else.
“I made her laugh, I made a pass, I showed her my half dollar ring, she said that's pretty cool. But classy girls don’t kiss in bars, you fool.”
Submarines is my standout favorite. it uses the piano as a percussion instrument, a guitar strum that is barely noticeable and a heavy drum that continually tries to outbang the piano. The lyrics, clever as always, tell the story of a boy who spots a submarine during wartime. The catchiest song of the album, this one continually changes. You won’t have the structure of the song down until you’ve listened to it a few times.
“ran back to town bar and I told the people how
I had seen a submarine and everyone laughed aloud.”
Though the majority of songs are upbeat, the album has its share of sadness. Dead Sea is a song with a story I haven’t quite figured out, but carries a tune that makes it worth listening to again and again. Stubborn Love has the common idea of a girl who continually hurts him, but he can’t let go because he loves her and its just that simple. They aren’t my favorites, but unlike most sad songs, they play very well in the background of a social event.
Flapper Girl somehow creates the sense of childhood with a simple piano melody that repeats and repeats, being carried by, again, the songs clever lyrics. The song stands out because of the imagery it creates. It tells multiple stories and in the chorus, asks the question “Would you call, would you write back baby?” It is the final joyful song in the album, being followed by the only song in the album I actually dislike, Morning Song, which lacks the characteristics of all other songs on the album, playing a bitter, darker melody that puts a sour final taste on the album.
“Local boy, local news
Power lines, hanging boots
firemen in the trucks cut loose
a local boys shoes.”
I like 10 of the 11 songs, giving this album a score of 90%
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