Do the names Wesley Keith Schultz, Jeremiah Caleb Fraites, and Neyla Pekarek ring a bell? Probably not. Do you recognize the song titled, “Ho Hey?” Perhaps. Do you know the lyrics: “I belong with you, you belong with me, you’re my sweetheart?” Now I have caught your attention.
The Lumineers’ self-titled and self-written first album came out in April 2012, and while many people know their hit song, “Ho Hey,” not many people know the band that plays it.
This CD is composed of songs that seem to be catching the attention of males and females alike. Underneath the catchy beat and awesome vibe are tales of every different kind of love. The first track, “Flowers In Your Hair,” is very hopeful. The message is classic wrapped up in a new tune: he realizes after the fact that he should have taken a chance with the girl he grew up with and is hoping that it is not too late for them to work things out. While I found the message quite overused, the spin that the band put on it made it fresh and new.
“Dead Sea” is a completely individual expression of love. Very much a folk song, the lyrics show a man fixated on being told that he is like the Dead Sea. He explains that he is born to be like this, a metaphor that means unsinkable. The person that he is singing about and he were born to be together. As long as they have each other, they will never metaphorically sink.
“Stubborn Love” should be way more famous than it is, as the matter-of-fact tune is extremely relatable. The girl “lies, steals, and cheats,” but he does not care; he still loves her. The lyrics argue that it is better to feel pain than nothing at all. Many can relate to loving someone when you know that you shouldn’t. Sometimes you just cannot help it.
There is one song that strikes differently from the rest. It tells of emotions before the man is in over his head as opposed to after. In “Classy Girls,” he wants just that. He meets a traveled girl who will not kiss him because they are in a bar. She refuses him because she is “too classy” and it makes him respect her more. How refreshing!
“Morning Song” closes the CD much like the end of a relationship. He is obviously hurt as there are long spaces between syllables. He is trying to stay calm after she has left the country and found another man. This song is so powerful because of the high level of emotions running through it. This is a perfect example of why The Lumineers are destined to succeed. Sure, they have the catchy beats and cute lyrics. However, they also have a huge trait plenty of modern musicians lack in their music: pure emotion.
With a sound similar to Mumford & Sons and Phillip Phillips, this newly-successful band is sure to have at least a few more hits on the radio, and the media is noticing. Within the last year, the band has been touring internationally and appearing on David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan, Rolling Stone, VH1 and other major media sources. For lyrics, tour dates, merchandise and news, check out www.thelumineers.com.
