Zac Brown Band turned the debut of their eighth studio album into a full-blown multimedia experience, setting up shop at the state-of-the-art Las Vegas venue Sphere for a residency kicking off Love & Fear’s release. Such lofty ambition suits Brown and company, who built a massive following over the last two decades by doing things a bit differently—and, often, by going big. The music on Love & Fear is appropriately far-reaching, as is the roster of guest artists: Marcus King, Snoop Dogg, and Dolly Parton all join in, signaling the reach of the record’s 13 tunes.
Opening track “I Ain’t Worried About It” would be a fairly typical ode to hopefulness with its assertions of “so much good in the world for the taking,” but a walking bassline and an elastic progression of jazzy acoustic chords add the slightest sense of discordance, not to mention a great groove. The King collaboration “Hard Run” skips the muscular tack of much of the blues guitar-slinger’s solo work, instead using King’s considerable chops to add heft to a harmony-rich, Beatlesque account of the redemptive power of love. Other highlights include “Butterfly,” on which Brown and Parton trade tender verses, and “Can You Hear Me Now,” a swampy, swaggering kiss-off with Chris Stapleton vibes.
