Photo courtesy of Flickr
Friday, Sept. 13, 2019 (yes, Friday the thirteenth), The Lumineers released their third studio album, aptly titled “III.” The narrative-style album presents the effects of addiction on members of the imaginary Sparks family. It’s beautiful, tragic and evocative, but we’d expect nothing less from the group that gave us “Sleep on the Floor” and “Cleopatra.” The band members feel they’ve “really hit [their] stride” with this latest album.
This album contains one of my favorite band trends: revitalizing previously featured lyrics. In this case, an especially poetic lyric from “Sleep on the Floor” made its way into “Life in the City” as follows: “and if the sun don’t shine on me today, and if the subways flood and bridges break, will you just lay down and dig your grave? Or will you rail against the dying day?”
This spirit of resilience edges into many of the album’s tracks in a powerful and artful way. One of the most unique tracks, and an undeniable personal favorite, is “Jimmy Sparks.” It tells the story of Jimmy, a prison guard who makes minimum wage. He is a single father whose wife left him with their baby.
Desperately, in the middle of the night, he seeks money in unsavory ways, namely gambling. On the way home, Jimmy encounters a hitchhiker whom he ignores because “it’s us or them.” Twenty-some years later, when his son has grown up, Jimmy is ambushed by loan sharks seeking repayment. The chorus is simply, “Oh my love, can you spare my blood?” After he is beaten, ransacked and threatened by the loan sharks, Jimmy wanders away barefoot. His son unknowingly drives past his father, thinking he is just another hitchhiker. Remembering his father’s advice, he drives on.
This is easily some of the best storytelling in recently released music. The emotions of the narrative shine through the musical elements. The story itself is unique and concise. I won’t get into it, but fans have traced together all of the members of the imaginary Sparks family, which connects to past tracks in the I, II, III album sequence.
“Jimmy Sparks” is one of my favorite tracks, not only of this album, but of any recently released albums. The story and music of the track are equally compelling.
Another favorite track of mine is “It Wasn’t Easy to be Happy for You.” Such a relatable sentiment. It is followed closely by “Left for Denver,” a song about abandonment and the accompanying paranoia. Honestly, every single track on this album is worth a few deep, secluded and quiet listens.
If, for some incomprehensible reason, you aren’t already a fan of The Lumineers, this powerful, insightful new album should do the trick.
