Cleopatra
| The Lumineers
Cleopatra
Cleopatra is the second studio album by American indie folk band The Lumineers. The album was released in the United States on April 8, 2016, and contains the singles "Ophelia", "Cleopatra" and "Angela". The album received positive reviews and commercial success, debuting at number one on the UK Albums Chart and the Billboard 200. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Consequence of Sound
Mostly, it feels like The Lumineers are talented songwriters, wary of repeating themselves, who know what they want to say, and are still figuring out how to say it.
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The New York Times
There’s a deep sense of deliberation about the album, as if every word and every sound had been weighed and pondered, not for radio consumption, but out of an ascetic craftsmanship.
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Slant
Cleopatra is simply Americana pastiche we’ve heard a hundred times before.
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Paste Magazine
While Cleopatra may seduce the faithful, it would be far better if next time The Lumineers are able to regain their groove.
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The AU Review
I know The Lumineers are capable of creating really good and loveable music, sadly Cleopatra is not the band at their best.
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Cryptic Rock
The Lumineers not only do not suffer from sophomoric slump, but they ascend above their debut album, using it as a step to rise above to bigger and better things.
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Entertainment Weekly
The three-piece group are still serving up the same piano jaunts you’d likely play on sticky summer nights and long drives through the mountains.
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Sputnik Music
There are some growing pains that, while not glaring, definitely lower the overall quality of the album. It's still worth listening to, but just keep expectations in check.
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The Line of Best Fit
It’s an album that coheres more effectively than did the first, and it’s one that shows an adventurousness while staying within sight of the elemental spirit of its inspiration.
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Indie Shuffle
This is something that is sure to excite longtime fans, and to also garner new ones.
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The Current
This trio constitutes what is probably the best music the Lumineers have ever produced.
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Alternative Addiction
If you liked the first album, you’ll probably like this one too. If you didn’t care for it, this one isn’t going to win you over either.
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Mother Church Pew
Cleopatra is indeed a unique and lovely addition the diverse Americana landscape.
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Medium
Cleopatra is a masterpiece of not just The Lumineers, but Isaac Ravishankara as well.
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The Upcoming
Cleopatra – a compact collection of 11 tracks that, although undoubtedly strong, seems torn between celebrating the broadly accessible, hand-clapping sound that launched them into the public eye, and a more restrained but equally evocative sound.
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Howl & Echoes
Cleopatra is an album that shows off the band’s ability to do something other than cute, catchy songs.
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Entertainment Focus
Every song is very much in The Lumineers mould and has their stamp over each song.
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PopMatters
If the Lumineers debut record was a representation of their metaphorical college years, Cleopatra is definitely their more mature, but confused, post-grad understanding of fame.
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Evening Standard
Cleopatra is more of the same echo-laden, sparse Americana, illuminated by Wesley Schultz’s remarkable voice.
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Outlet Mag
The Lumineers successfully made a comeback with a more well-developed music and proved that they’re not a one-hit wonder.
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Thank Folk For That
While in its entirety I believe that the debut self-titled album is a little stronger, Cleopatra is far from a sophomore slump.
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Music Feeds
Cleopatra is incredibly raw and down to earth, and for the most part is made up of songs that use lyrics to convey real and relatable experiences.
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Renowned For Sound
With humility in their song writing and an air of timelessness in their melodies, Cleopatra proves that this Denver trio haven’t lost their touch.
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The Fire Note
The Lumineers fail to hold the listener’s interest, and the quiet sameness of the sound and vocals is more a curse than a blessing.
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Scan
Cleopatra does very little to offend, whilst also doing very little to excite.
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Spectrum Culture
Cleopatra, the follow-up to their self-titled debut, deliberately shies away from rehashing formulaic radio bait.
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The Red & Black
The wait paid off as the Colorado trio is back with “Cleopatra,” its subtle yet captivating sophomore effort.
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The Celebrity Cafe
Cleopatra is beautiful, moving and every bit as good as their debut.
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The Odyssey
All in all, this album just left me confused. I don’t understand why all these songs are together. I guess they were okay.
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We Plug Good Music
Cleopatra sounds more mature and less playful than their debut, but retains the essence of the folk rock charm that made them popular.
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Redbrick
Cleopatra is guaranteed to be stuck on repeat for days at a time and destined to be a huge album, not just in 2016, but for many years to come.
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Bearded Gentlemen Music
Against all odds, The Lumineers avoid the sophomore slump, at least in terms of quality if not commercial success.
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Popped Music
Cleopatra is an album that really stays true to the ideals of Folk music.
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The Guardian
“Cleopatra” is an immensely enjoyable album that fans of The Lumineers and folk music in general can be excited about.
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uInterview
Cleopatra shows that they are not afraid of facing big existential topics and doing so in a quietly dramatic way.
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Forge Press
Cleopatra won’t provide any shocks, but it is still an enjoyable, worthwhile listen.
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The Daily Reveille
If The Lumineers were playing baseball, their sophomore album, “Cleopatra,” would make one or two bases, but not a home run.
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Contact Music
The four year wait for 'Cleopatra' is evidence of a different approach - and there's certainly no contrived recreation of their best known hit.
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Culturefly
A solid album, but certainly nowhere near the Pharaonic proportions its name suggests – nor as much so as the Lumineers’ debut.
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SA Music Scence
The folk rock elements are tempered by melancholic and wistful elements as The Lumineers deliver a sombre and reserved affair that is capricious in its moods.
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Impact
Despite its shortness, the album feels like multiple projects but still beautifully comes together as a cohesive piece.
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Pathfinder
The songs of Cleopatra can either put you to sleep or make you want to get up and dance.
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Belwood Music
This is music for the people and on just about every level things just fall into place.
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The Bark
As a long time fan, I was extremely pleased with Cleopatra and find it to be the perfect soundtrack for the coming summer.
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Earbuddy
The Lumineers don't "Ho Hey" their way around on their new album, suggesting they're not really a folk anthem band.
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The Retriever
The sophomore album uses the same tempo and rhythms on their first album, except this time it plays as dull, because the songs become forgettable.
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The University News
Unfortunately, [Cleopatra] simply doesn’t compare to The Lumineers’ first album, and likely will have been better received had their debut album not set the bar so high.
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Rock on Philly
Cleopatra showcases a more mature sound for these musicians with sparse and simple arrangements, but nonetheless pensive and very romantic.
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The Highlander
“Cleopatra” is by no means a bad album, but it also isn’t as good as it could’ve been.
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Knight Errant
By simplifying their music and writing heavier, more meaningful lyrics, the Lumineers have honed in on their strengths and proved themselves to be a complex, well-established music group.
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The Gannon Knight
“Cleopatra” could serve as a necessary learning experience for The Lumineers and show that their best music is still yet to come.
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The Maneater
“Cleopatra” is a little homogenous but overall quite lovely.
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The Patriot Online
Although generally slower and less upbeat than their last album, it still has a that spark that keeps the listener listening.
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Sauk Valley
All in all, [The Lumineers] released an enjoyable collection of songs, and perhaps most importantly, a complete and cohesive album.
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KRUI 89.7 FM
The songs are good, they just don’t stand out on their own.
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Edinboro Now
The album is pretty good for the type of music they produce, but it’s a little repetitive because there isn’t necessarily any variety.
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