Album review by Charlotte Poynton
As a self-declared expert on the Brisbane indie music scene, I can guarantee that everyone has a soft spot in their hearts for the one and only, Ball Park Music. These indie rockers soundtracked our 2010s and are back yet again to prove that there’s always more to feelings to be conveyed through music with their eighth studio album release, Like Love. Whether you’re a seasoned fan of cocaine and oysters, attending your first game at the ballpark, or secretly enjoy The Pizzas better – Like Love’s ten track run has something to tickle everyone’s fancy!
Coast Is Clear
The album opens with a simple acoustic guitar in ‘Coast Is Clear’, setting up a new atmosphere for Ball Park Music’s sound in this new era. Quite a heartfelt glimpse into what you’ll miss if you get swept up in the constant movement of life, this track stands both as the latest single from Brisbane’s favourite band, and as a reminder to always appreciate the little things before they disappear from your view.
Overwhelming Sound
A melodic guitar motif introduces ‘Overwhelming Sound’, before a chorus of voices bring us through the song. Continuing the theme of vulnerability and raw lyricism that sits prominently in this current Ball Park Music era, ‘Overwhelming Sound’ hits harder than expected with the lyrics “I’ve poured everything into this life, I cannot lose my touch”, one of the many examples that Brisbane’s favourite band did not come to mess around with this album. A cacophony of slightly disturbing and titularly overwhelming sounds closes off the track, shaking audiences from this almost lullaby of calm.
Please Don’t Move To Melbourne
An instant Ball Park classic from the first listen, ‘Please Don’t Move To Melbourne’ pokes fun at the wave of locals making the move down south. Personally, I feel victimised by this track, though I still contemplate a sway away from our sunny state. Showing off the Ball Park Music charm that we’ve all come to love dearly, lead singer and songwriter Sam Cromack shares that ‘Please Don’t Move To Melbourne’ is “truly one of our favourite songs we’ve made”. If you’re a fan of cathartic sing along tracks to throw on repeat, this may just become your top song of the year!
As Far As I Can Tell
The ever-lively ‘As Far As I Can Tell’ slides in at track four of Like Love with an infectious energy that instantly reminded me of Ball Park Music’s third album, Puddinghead. With a groovy bassline and funky percussion, there is simply no way to listen to this track without getting up and having a little dance. I can also guarantee that the chorus is a top tier earworm, so be prepared to have the high spirited ‘As Far As I Can Tell’ stuck in your head for the next 8-10 business days.
Like Love
Life is a journey of endless mysteries, but Ball Park confirm that love takes the crown as the most complex feeling of all, with the truly raw and heartfelt title track, ‘Like Love’. Ball Park Music teased fans with this track at live shows for over a year, but this end result definitely proved to be worth the wait! Sam Cromack shares that this song stands as a reminder “of what really matters” in life, with a simple acoustic guitar accompanying his vocals through this one-of-a-kind release.
NORK
‘NORK’ slides in at track 6, a titular acronym of ‘no one really knows’. This track feels like an oddly sobering dream, with a jazzy mid-song interlude and robotic distorted backing playing the role of response. ‘NORK’ is that type of song that plays in a movie scene after the main character loses it all, perfect for all moments of dramatically staring out the car window on a rainy day.
Bells In Bloom
Like Love feels like a reminiscent journey through Ball Park Music’s discography paired with a venture into more delicate territory. Track seven of ‘Bells In Bloom’ is the strongest example of this, feeling lowkey nostalgic yet also so fresh at the same time. Perhaps this blast from the past sensation can be attributed to the fact that many of these album tracks were conceptualised during other eras but never made the final cut for any other album, though all tracks feel at home on this collection. ‘Bells In Bloom’ pairs a scratchy guitar driven melody with a sonically melancholic chorus, complete with piano accents to tie the sound together.
Pain & Love
Bringing the energy back up a notch is ‘Pain & Love’, a love letter to the fans of upbeat and joyous Ball Park Music hits. With a host of percussion instrumentation and a cathartic singalong chorus, ‘Pain & Love’ is a sonic call back to fun nature of 60’s music, with an audible reminiscence to ‘Happy Together’ by The Turtles.
Gabrielle
We open on a hazy western film scene with track nine, ‘Gabrielle’. Cromack’s skill for vivid lyrical imagery shines through on this cinematic track, with a simple sonic landscape building a whole universe from his words.
Fast Forward
An album closer often holds the most weight, and ‘Fast Forward’ is no exception from this pattern. The ideal manner to listen to this song is with high volume, rocking back and forward as lyrics of “By the time I find it, all of the world has moved on” bring about feelings of deep existentialism. For an album that ventures through all the feelings one may possibly have, ‘Fast Forward’ feels like a jump straight into the deep end, from the cold splash of reality to the deep plunge that echoes through your mind on repeat afterwards.
If you’re liking, or even loving, Like Love, I recommend you put your money where your mouth is and purchase some of the Like Love merch, including a gorgeous enamel mug or shirt, or get your hands on one of those simply stunning splatter vinyls. Further, if you want to fully immerse yourself in the world of Ball Park Music, grab a ticket to their massive 30 date AUNZ tour this winter, featuring fellow impeccable locals Bean Magazine on support.
