For their third studio album, the husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty changed up their formula: Rather than writing separately and sharing ideas with one another later in the process, Michael and Tanya Trotter co-wrote the LP together, treating the creation of Lover’s Game as a product not just of their individual talents but of their deep love for each other. Following 2020’s acclaimed Hearts Town, Lover’s Game is a tender portrait of long-term love, with a particular emphasis on maintaining a healthy marriage amid the myriad challenges of everyday life. Produced by Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile), Lover’s Game doesn’t change things up too much sonically, as the warmhearted blend of soul, R&B, country, and blues the duo has concocted over the years needs no adjustment. The title track is swaggering country rock à la Nutbush City Limits-era Ike & Tina, with some swampy, Allman-esque guitar for good measure. “That’s How Love Is Made,” with its piano-forward production and relatable lyrics, sounds like a standard. And “Ain’t No Harmin’ Me” is a soulful celebration of hard-earned resilience, with a particularly fiery vocal from Tanya.
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