Ball Park Music has been one of the most consistently prolific Australian bands of the past 15 years. Like clockwork, they’d release a hit single, follow it up with another hit single and then drop an album, tour the album for twelve months, disappear for six months before releasing an entirely new single, thus starting the cycle again. The formula worked. It was stable, reliable and satisfying. They were never too far from the minds of their fans and the broader Australian music landscape. And yet, you never grew tired of your love for them.
Now onto LP eight, the album’s title is a perfect descriptor for what the Australian public generally feels for the band. Like Love; an overwhelming sense of familiarity and connection. At ten tracks in length, there’s more than enough here from the band to make their fans continue this bond and affinity. Opening up the album is “Coast Is Clear”, a track that commences by feeling like a Celtic lullaby, before the harmonies and layering of the band’s vocals come in, matched by subtle piano and select guitar licks that amplify the ambience of the song. The final minute is calm, collected and all kinds of brilliant.
The band has noted they’ve leant into a softer sound throughout Like Love, removing much of the traditional upbeat vibes they’ve come to be known for. And while it would have been nice to have a couple tracks that are dance floor ready, the general path the album follows is still great. “Overwhelming Sound” feels like a Simon and Garfunkel track in a similar vein to ”The Boxer”, with Sam Cromack’s lead vocals are as clear as ever, while Jen Boyce’s backing vocals match up perfectly once more.
“As Far As I Can Tell” and “Please Don’t Move to Melbourne” are the most traditional of sounding Ball Park Music tracks on the release. “As Far As I Can Tell” has a pleasant country vibe and feels like a perfect Sunday afternoon sitting in the sun having a cold one after slugging away cleaning the house earlier in the day. It will fit nicely as a main set closer on their upcoming national tour and setlists for years to come. Acting as the second single on the album, “Please Don’t Move to Melbourne” has a sense of nostalgia and longing that goes hand-in-hand with not wanting a friend to leave town because you’re scared of change.
“Pain & Love”, with its plodding front half, delicate guitar licks and blossoming harmonies, would nine-times-out-of-ten generally be the bonafide love song on the album. If it was released on just about any other album, it probably would be. But not here. That accolade is saved for lead single “Like Love”. I remember seeing Sam play “Like Love” on their 2023 tour and thinking it would be a hit, or soundtrack just about every Millennial wedding for the next decade. Six months after its release, I’m here to tell you I was pretty spot on. It’s devastatingly honest and beautiful and will go down as a song that will have you crying happy tears every time you hear it live.
If the album’s title didn’t give it away already, the overarching theme of the album is love and everything that reminds you of it. Tracks like “Gabrielle”, or album closer “Fast Forward” hit the theme right out of the ball park. The longest song on the album, “Fast Forward” is the most holistic 5 minutes on Like Love. “Fast Forward” feels like the mature older sibling to Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs‘ own closer “Happy Healthy Citizen of the Developed World Blues”. The closing chant of ‘only love will save you’ is bullet proof in its sentiment and a clean, crisp and clear reminder to hold those you love close.
It’s clear Like Love is the maturing of the band, something that continually has progressed throughout the release of their records, especially since 2020’s self-titled. With this maturity they have moved away from the full-blown hits and festival ready singles we’ve come to know and love. And while Like Love is by no means a step backwards for the band, it does feel more like a shift sidewards. Their music is still as fantastic as it has always been and Sam Cromack’s vocals are still as perfect as ever. It’s this consistency that draws you in, time and again, reminding you why they’re one of Australia’s best.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Like Love is out now – get a copy HERE
Ball Park Music is touring Like Love throughout May, June and July. For more details on the tour and to buy tickets, head here.
