Lumineers Album Cover for III
Part of the goal of the new Cranford Municipal Alliance website (www.OurBestCranford.org) is to include contributions of content from members, parents, students, and others interested in teaching our kids about avoiding substance use and abuse.
My first contribution is a review of The Lumineers third studio album, III, which was released on September 13th. If you think an album review seems like an odd choice for Municipal Alliance content, you are not alone. If the mission of the Municipal Alliance is to educate students and families about the dangers of underage drinking, why write about the newest album from a rock band? After all, the traditional rock-n-roll lifestyle is not exactly in line with the message of the Municipal Alliance. However, with their third studio album, New Jersey natives Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites have created a concept album in three acts that delves deep into addiction, home, and family. The album and accompanying videos are beautiful and the band deserves credit for lending their artistry to these themes.
With III, the artists examine a family over three generations and how addiction impacts not only daily life, but also reverberates through generations. Both songwriters have experienced addiction in their own families. Fraites’ brother died from a heroin overdose and a member of Schultz’ family is currently homeless after years of struggle with the disease. The lens these two artists look through to examine this topic offers an intense perspective on loving someone in the middle of active alcoholism and understanding how addiction affects people far beyond the afflicted person.
The Lumineers broke out in 2012 with the single “Ho, Hey!”. They have been nominated for two Grammys and their sophomore record, Cleopatra, was a huge commercial success. They surely could have opted for a big commercially successful third album, but instead they have created an album in three chapters which tells the story of a family battling alcoholism over decades. Concept albums are risky, and this one is extraordinary. It is amazing a record company got behind the idea, and the result is beautiful and meaningful. The band introduces the topic of addiction in to our cultural conversation in a way not seen before. Addiction, alcoholism, and sobriety are topics that were mostly unspoken a generation ago, and only now are we beginning to see the benefits of the greater conversation about addiction we are having as a culture.
So, how does this relate to your children, Cranford students, and our community? The artistry of the songs is more than worth your time. (@TheLumineers - some lyrics are not appropriate for young children and the videos are not appropriate for children) But, how this really relates to Cranford families is the conversation we need to be having with our children. 57% of teenagers have never discussed addiction with their parents. Not every household faces addiction issues, however it is never far from home for any of us. If we are willing to discuss this topic with our children, they will be better equipped to deal with addiction when they see it. For some, that may be a personal battle with addiction, and for others it may be how to recognize signs of trouble in a friend or family member. It is often easy to feel like our kids don’t listen to us, however 85% of teenagers say the person who has the greatest influence on them regarding alcohol consumption is their parents. That tells us these conversations are vital, and albums like III can help us start and sustain those conversations.
The Municipal Alliance is always looking for new volunteers, so if you are interested in M.A. events and topics, visit and “LIKE” our facebook and Instagram pages. Look for Municipal Alliance members at back to school nights this week, get your newly designed magnet featuring our website address, and let’s all continue the conversation for a healthier tomorrow for our kids.
-Terry Darling, Municipal Alliance parent volunteer