Love Life attempts to find optimism while addressing subjects as dismal as domestic violence, near-death experiences and the apocalypse. The James frontman is aided by the producer Lee Baker, who provides guitars, trip-hoppy beats, spooky harpsichord or choirs to meet the mood. “At the point of darkness, here comes this beautiful light,” Booth sings. But the best tracks on the album (Harbour, Monsters) are delivered with a bitter smirk, while others are a bit too idealistic.
(Monkey God; out Mon)