Though 2022 may not have started as calmly as we all had hoped with the new COVID Omicron surge, politics and hospitalizations do seem to be slightly more under control than 12 months ago. With winter in full swing and Christmas music making its way down the charts, it’s time for the first major releases of 2022. And The Lumineers have decidedly kicked things off with an optimistic take. Brightside, their fourth studio album, finds the band in somewhat familiar territory with lyrics oftentimes about minute moments of romance. Though this time, the music is more electric and fuller than on their previous releases.

Quiet drumming is paired with an electric guitar on the opening title track. It tells a story of commitment, through the good times and the uncertain ones. “BRIGHTSIDE” features a more electric and produced sound than some listeners of The Lumineers may be familiar with, but it works well, especially paired with succinct scenic descriptions like, “I was stranded in the bed/ You were listening to ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’/ I could barely see your eyes.”

Concluding track “REPRISE” revisits the opener but features a more upbeat track. Now Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites are headed for the bright side as opposed to being the bright side. Placing the tracks at the beginning and end of the album works well, as they don’t seem to actually tell the same story but emit the same imagery.

“WHERE WE ARE” ebbs and flows with observations and memories. Schultz reminisces on his relationship and repeatedly asks, “What was I?” through various everyday scenarios from the calming experience of staring at ceiling fans to the chaos of crashing cars on Arizona highways. “Where we are/ I don’t know where we are/ But it will be OK,” he sings repeatedly through the chorus.

The album’s shortest track, “REMINGTON,” clocks in under two minutes and by the time it builds it’s ready to come back down again. Schultz harkens back to the power of the sun, describing standing and “waiting on the sun tonight.” The band debuted the track live along with “REPRISE” several months ago, and the two songs work well as both stand-alone cuts or tied together with the piano-heavy opening of “REPRISE.”

Among the remaining five songs from the nine-tracks album are “NEVER REALLY MINE,” where just an electric guitar supports Schultz’s crisp and strong voice. He sings of love not being designed for time. He notes how as time passes, it proves—without trying—who we’re actually meant to be together. A musical interlude partway through “BIRTHDAY” slows the song to its minimum with a smattering of applause to sound like a live performance. It picks back up with the same stomping beat as the duo sings, “It’s all right/ We’re carrying on.”

The Lumineers make the perfect style of music to listen to this time of year. It’s warm and comforting, and the band aims to spread love throughout its songwriting. The two are not seeking revenge, nor are they heartbroken. If you get sent into quarantine, take a listen to Brightside, as it will undoubtedly be an uplifting and easygoing 30 minutes of your time.

Follow Domenic Strazzabosco at Twitter.com/domenicstrazz and Instagram.com/domenicstrazz.