What makes Love + War by Kwabs notable?

'Love + War' received critical acclaim, debuting at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and earning praise for its blend of contemporary soul and emotive lyricism. The album's lead single 'Walk' had previously reached significant streaming numbers and radio play, establishing Kwabs as a rising star in the UK music scene. Released on September 11, 2015, 'Love + War' is Kwabs' debut studio album following the success of his EP 'Walk,' which had garnered international attention. At this point in his career, he was transitioning from emerging artist to mainstream recognition, aiming to solidify his presence in the R&B and soul genres.

How many songs are on Love + War?

Love + War has 12 tracks, running approximately 46 minutes.

Love + War

Kwabs · 2015

46 min · 12 tracks · rhythm and blues

A rich tapestry of soulful melodies intertwined with heartfelt lyrics exploring love and conflict.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Love + War — The title track encapsulates the album's core themes, blending powerful vocals with a poignant exploration of the duality of love and struggle.
→
Fight for Love — This track showcases Kwabs' vocal range and emotional depth, with lyrics that emphasize resilience in the face of relationship challenges.
→
Walk — 'Walk' serves as an anthem of empowerment, characterized by its infectious melody and uplifting message about self-acceptance and moving forward.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

54 /100

Foothills

Higher than 43% of albums we've rated

The album features strong melodies and cohesive themes but lacks standout production elements.

What we noticed

The album opens with a title track that sets a slow, atmospheric tone, followed by a series of mid-tempo songs that maintain this mood.
Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies and rich instrumentation, particularly in the choruses, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics.
The last three tracks shift towards more introspective themes, with 'Father Figure' and 'Wrong or Right' featuring minimalistic arrangements that contrast earlier production.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Love + War 4:13
2 Fight for Love 3:40
3 Walk 3:36
4 My Own 3:49
5 Look Over Your Shoulder 3:02
6 Perfect Ruin 4:11
7 Forgiven 3:52
8 Layback 3:55
9 Make You Mine 3:44
10 Father Figure 3:20
11 Wrong or Right 3:39
12 Cheating on Me 5:01

What to play next

Go back to

Pray for Love

2014

Full Kwabs discography Artists like Kwabs

soul

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata