By Sydney Mulford
The Lumineers released their newest album, Automatic, on Feb. 14, 2025—and it brought a lot of mixed reviews. There are still deep messages woven into the lyrics of this new, more instrumental side of the Lumineers. However, Automatic lacks the folk feel of The Lumineers and Cleopatra.
The album starts strong with "Same Old Song." "Same Old Song," or "SOS," begins with a more upbeat tone than the rest of the album. A catchy drumbeat carries the song, giving the listener a rush of energy. However, this upbeat tone is juxtaposed with the deeper meaning of the lyrics. Lead singer Wesley Schultz sings about being stuck in the "same old song" and unsure how to escape. Schultz sings, "I’m not sure what’s wrong with me, I killed the mood so naturally, the guests begin to make me feel alone, the party has been done for hours," furthering the depth of the lyrics.
The album softens with "Asshole" and "Automatic." The tone picks up slightly with "Plasticine," which explores the theme of being molded. The lyrics state, "Plasticine, I can bend me into anything you need, self-assured with a team of writers feeding you the words." The Lumineers reinforce this idea with backtracks of quiet conversations where the words, "What does this song mean? My whole life, I don’t know what this song means," can be heard.
Automatic includes two purely instrumental tracks: "Strings" and "Sunflowers." "Sunflowers" carries a unique sound of hope and nostalgia, providing the listener with anticipation for what comes next—only for the album to end abruptly.
Overall, the Lumineers introduce a new sound for themselves with Automatic. However, the songs cannot compete with previous hits like "Cleopatra" and "Ophelia." While the lyrics are deep and meaningful, the instrumentals do not match the power of their earlier work.
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