Review
The Lumineers' "Automatic" finds Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites wrestling with the strange fever dream of contemporary existence, where reality and artifice blur together like watercolors in the rain. Recorded swiftly at Utopia Studios in the storied musical haven of Woodstock, this collection of eleven songs unfolds in just over thirty minutes, creating an intimate chronicle of how we cope—or fail to cope—with the relentless noise of modern living. The duo's exploration of anxiety, numbness, and overstimulation feels particularly urgent here, delivered through their characteristic blend of vulnerability and sharp-eyed observation.
What strikes me most about this release is how The Lumineers push against their own template while remaining unmistakably themselves. The lead single "Same Old Song" exemplifies this balance perfectly, marrying their traditional piano-driven approach with a quickened pulse that feels almost restless. Tracks like "Asshole" and "Keys on the Table" showcase the band's willingness to embrace both tenderness and brutal self-examination, while the deliberately sparse arrangements create space for these weighty themes to breathe. It's a study in controlled experimentation—maintaining the storytelling DNA that defines their work while venturing into territory that feels both familiar and refreshingly uncharted. - Ellis
