Denver alternative band The Lumineers released their second album, Cleopatra, April 8, 2016. The album gained positive feedback from fans and reached number one on the Billboard 200 and the UK Album Chart.

The Lumineers first self-titled album was rather repetitive. A majority of the songs are soft, piano or acoustic guitar driven songs, with a basic major chord pattern, but Cleopatra offers more variety. This album transitioned the band from quiet folk to more “Mumford and Sons-y”; quiet and acoustic to louder and more percussion.

The first song of the album I listened to was the first single released, “Ophelia,” and it immediately caught my attention. “Ophelia” is upbeat with a catchy piano sequence throughout the song. Their other singles “Angela” and “Cleopatra” stick out from the bunch. “Angela” has a unique, slightly haunting minor chord pattern, something out of the norm for the band, while “Cleopatra” is a lively foot stomper. The songs of Cleopatra can either put you to sleep (“Angela” or “Where the Skies Are Blue”) or make you want to get up and dance (“Cleopatra” or “Ophelia”).

The album also features a soft piano instrumental song called “Patience,” again, something the previous album did not have. All these additions in Cleopatra have shown how lead singer and songwriter Wesley Shultz is expanding his horizons as musicians.

After the band’s first single “Ho Hey” made it big on the radio, they were never to be heard of again by avid Z1077 listeners. Even though Cleopatra doesn’t provide any ‘radio popular’ songs, I don’t think that’s what Schultz and the band are trying to achieve.

The Pathfinder gives Cleopatra 8.3/10.