Boy & Bear - Limit of Love

Boy & Bear
Limit of Love
2015

Sometimes taking a simple approach really works for an artist. On Limit of Love the third record from Australian indie group Boy & Bear and finds them scaling things down to a more classic crooning style. The drums are light and splashy, the guitar is clean and the bass drives the groove forward. This is both the best and worst parts of this record. Songs like "Showdown" are almost a direct copy of The Doors, organ and all, even in so much as the song never seems to end. This Doorsesque theme continues throughout the record even though it is accompanied by a much more modern feel. The album works great as a predictor for their live show, the recording almost sounds like much of it was done with the full band in the room. This adds to the classicness of the record as if it has existed for years and years but we are all just now getting a peek at it. "Just Dumb" however is where they really begin to bridge the gap between making an album grounded in older styles and instead pull that same style through to today. 

 Boy & Bear have followed in Mumford and Sons' footsteps on Limit of Love and left most of the banjo playing behind, however this album does not swing for the fences like Wilder Mind did. This record is more alt and less rock. Even the slightly heavier tracks at the beginning of the album barely scratch the surface of having any kind of edge. The lyrics on this album however are quite beautiful and really try to open Boy & Bear up to some real emotional connection. This album because it is quite a shift from what they have done in the past will probably not receive the same praise and they have enjoyed in the past, and in all honesty this is a weaker record. This is the kind of music for a coffee house or a bar with a stage, unfortunately this is not going to connect with most people.

5.6 out of 10

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