Album Review: Dan Wilson - Love Without Fear

Right out of the gate, Love Without Fear's opening and title track sets the table for what's to come: solid songwriting, tight arrangements and a hopeful melancholy. These songs don't need overbearing production or layers of instrumentation and flashy tricks, the undeniable emotion does all the heavy lifting. But when Wilson decides to up the ambition with something like When It Pleases You, the strings, soaring backing vocals and extra layers add a genuine musical beauty. Both stripped-down and grander approaches seamlessly combine for Even The Stars Are Sleeping, the perfect summation of Love Without Fear.