Rank: 3/ 5
If The Lumineers were playing baseball, their sophomore album, “Cleopatra,” would make one or two bases, but not a home run.
The trio’s second release is a darker, simpler take on their usual acoustic style. The group did not set out to accomplish any new feats with this album, and “Cleopatra” has gained little traction.
At 11 tracks and running just 33 minutes in total, the shorter record does make a statement. Whether or not the work is lasting is up for debate.
While The Lumineers waited four years to produce another EP, they did not try to recreate the success of their first album that initially made them famous. Their lack of follow-up is worthy of recognition, as experimentation and exploration is better than imitation. After such a wide gap between releases, one has to ask if the group is still as relevant as they were four years ago, and how they dealt with the expectations set by their first release.
Commercially, the band’s debut album was more successful and has a better collection of upbeat songs. There is not a single track on “Cleopatra” that sounds remotely similar to The Lumineers’ 2012 hit, “Ho Hey,” but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“Ophelia” is easily the standout single on this new record. “Sleep On The Floor,” “Gun Song” and “My Eyes” are also some of the more notable tracks.
Frontman Wesley Shultz’s vocals are showcased at the forefront of the album. The songwriting is strong, as is the consistency in vocals. However, many of the songs on “Cleopatra” start to sound similar as the songs go on.
The themes in this album differ heavily from the group’s first, dealing with more serious topics, such as loss, longing and death.
Their sophomore effort doesn’t have much instrumentation, either. “Cleopatra” prioritizes truthful and profound lyricism over cheery melodies.
In an interview with CBC music, Shultz said, “When I was writing some of these songs is the first time I can remember writing and then literally crying or sobbing and then keeping on writing because something was happening.”
“Cleopatra” evokes a sense of curiosity from the listener, but doesn’t stand out as a classic.