For their sixth studio album and first album since 2019, The Lumineers present “BRIGHTSIDE.” With 30 minutes of mellow tunes with a classic storytelling element, the only complaint from fans is that it is not long enough.

The Lumineers released both “BIG SHOT” and “A.M. RADIO” in the fall of 2021, two of the nine songs included in the album. Released on Jan. 14, 2022, within the first two days following its release, “BRIGHTSIDE” had already claimed number one Top Album Debut USA, according to Spotify charts. Not only was “BRIGHTSIDE” the Top Debut Album, but additionally two of songs were within the Top Songs Debut USA with “WHERE WE ARE” the third top and “BIRTHDAY” coming in ninth between Jan 14-16. Additionally, “BRIGHTSIDE” has climbed to the top charts all around the world from Scotland to Germany and many places in between. 

Now, “BRIGHTSIDE” would not be a Lumineers album without a storytelling element weaved into it somehow. “WHERE WE ARE” is inspired by a tragic car accident nearly taking the lives of the two inside of the car. As The Lumineers lead singer and guitarist Wesley Schultz and his wife Brandy Schultz were driving, they hydroplaned and flew off the road as they were moving at 70 miles per hour, rolling over creating the tragically inspiring “WHERE WE ARE.” The music video, (available on YouTube) portrays the physical, outward tragedies of the car accident and the lyrics represent the internal thoughts that the victims of the accident had as their lives flashed before their eyes.

The meaning behind the album itself is finding the bright side despite the current situation of our world today.

 “This is the most divided I’ve seen our country, and the song [referencing ‘ROLLERCOASTER’] is these vague vignettes with the feeling of developing some level of empathy for what you consider the ‘other side’ instead of easily vilifying each other,” Schultz told USA Today.

Each song has a meaning which ties into the central theme of finding hope and faith in humanity in the midst of the pandemic. “BIRTHDAY” represents how life continues to move on despite the new reality of the pandemic with undertones of The Beatles sprinkled throughout the music. In “ROLLERCOASTER,” the lyric “everyone was only dying to live” represents living through a pandemic and the absence of reaching the end. As a whole, ‘BRIGHTSIDE’ brings hope to listeners encouraging them to stay on the “bright side” during hard times.

“It feels like collectively we’ve been in that car crash the past couple of years, and it felt like a way more interesting to talk about [the pandemic],” said Schultz.

The Lumineers “BRIGHTSIDE” is most definitely a fan favorite and a must listen!