The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN LENNON – JOHN LENNON/PLASTIC ONO BAND – THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION (SUPER DELUXE BOX SET)
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GILBY CLARKE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH
SPILL FEATURE: ALIVE FOREVER – A CONVERSATION WITH GARY BROOKER OF PROCOL HARUM
SPILL FEATURE: REIMAGINING IMAGINOS – A CONVERSATION WITH ALBERT BOUCHARD OF BLUE ÖYSTER CULT
SPILL TRACK OF THE WEEK: GARY NUMAN – “SAINTS AND LIARS”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: ATOMIC BRONCO – “CRUEL”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SLOTHRUST ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘PARALLEL TIMELINE’ DUE OUT SEPTEMBER 10 | NEW SINGLE + VIDEO “STRANGE ASTROLOGY” OUT NOW ON DANGERBIRD RECORDS
SPILL NEWS: MATT BERRY SHARES NEW TRACK “SUMMER SUN” | NEW ALBUM ‘THE BLUE ELEPHANT’ DUE OUT MAY 14 ON ACID JAZZ RECORDS
SPILL NEWS: BILLY F. GIBBONS ON A “DESERT HIGH” FROM FORTHCOMING ‘HARDWARE’ ALBUM VIA CONCORD
SPILL NEW MUSIC: THE TREWS SHARE BRAND NEW PANDEMIC ANTHEM “I WANNA PLAY” VIA CADENCE MUSIC GROUP
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III IMAGINED
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRETA VAN FLEET – THE BATTLE AT GARDEN’S GATE
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ORIGINAL MUCHMUSIC VJ + PLATINUM SINGER/SONGWRITER CHRISTOPHER WARD RELEASES “BLACK VELVET” FROM ‘SAME RIVER TWICE’ ALBUM
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ISLANDS SHARE NEW SINGLE “SET THE FAIRLIGHT” VIA ROYAL MOUNTAIN RECORDS | NEW ALBUM ‘ISLOMANIA’ OUT JUNE 11
SPILL NEW MUSIC: JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM “LOCAL VALLEY” VIA MUTE RECORDS | LISTEN TO “VISIONS” TODAY
SPILL NEWS: THE BLACK KEYS CELEBRATE MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY BLUES WITH NEW ALBUM ‘DELTA KREAM’ ON MAY 14 + NEW SINGLE “CRAWLING KINGSNAKE”
  • MORE
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • TOTD
    • Track Of The Week
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
1
59
previous article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHAPELL - PENULTIMATE
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - WESTERN STARS

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BAD BOOKS – III

Bad Books

Bad Books
III
Loma Vista Recordings

Not a single sound from Bad Books was dropped for almost six years.  The last time fans heard of the band, consisting of Manchester Orchestra members Andy Hull, Kevin Devine, and Robert McDowell, was back in 2016 with Daytrotter Session. Fans yearned for the tender vocals, gentle strums, and playful lyrics that arise from this Atlanta/ Brooklyn/ Fort Myers band.

Bad Books now makes a magnificently emotional comeback with the hot new release of III. Hull and Devine remain as singers and songwriters, while McDowell jams on the guitar. Overall, the band still continues to leave listeners with a familiar taste of the Weakerthans, Death Cab for Cutie and most recently of Electric Light Orchestra.

The album quickly immerses listeners with its ELO vibes on opening track, “Wheel Well”. Hull and Devine continue to draw fans ever so close with their fairytale-like and relatable lyrics, that spill unto “I Love You, I’m Sorry, Please Help Me, Thank You” and “I Wrote It Down For You” the latter which brings forth themes of honesty, patience and gratitude. III closes off with melodic and self-reassuring “Army”. Hull once shared that Bad Books is, “my therapeutic outlet…a place I can go and do whatever I want in the moment”, and for listeners “Army” will surely be their therapeutic outlet.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BAD BOOKS – III

Author

Freda Looker

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
—
8.0
Total Spill Rating
—
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewalbum reviewsbad booksiiilake houseloma vista recordings
album review, album reviews, bad books, iii, lake house, loma vista recordings
About the Author
Freda Looker
Freda Looker
Freda Looker has been a music enthusiast since her mother first got her dabbing at a young age to Engelbert Humperdinck, The Beatles, and ABBA. Her passion still lives on today, avidly attending music festivals, blogging, and studying Music Business. She hopes to continue writing and engaging with like-minded music enthusiasts wherever the rhythms and beats lead her.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewalbum reviewsiii
 
10
John Lennon

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN LENNON – JOHN LENNON/PLASTIC ONO BAND – THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION (SUPER DELUXE BOX SET)

by Aaron Badgley on April 23, 2021
John Lennon John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band – The Ultimate Collection (Super Deluxe Box Set) Apple/Universal Music Reviewing [...]
 
6.0
Gilby Clarke

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GILBY CLARKE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH

by Gerrod Harris on April 23, 2021
Gilby Clarke The Gospel Truth Golden Robot Records While best known as the rhythm guitarist for Guns N’ Roses on the Use Your Illusion tour, Gilby Clarke has enjoyed a small solo [...]
 
10
Paul McCartney
8.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III IMAGINED

by Aaron Badgley on April 16, 2021
Paul McCartney McCartney III Imagined MPL/Capitol Say what you will about Paul McCartney, but he never does what is expected of him. Following the success of 2020’s McCartney [...]
 
8.0
Greta Van Fleet

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRETA VAN FLEET – THE BATTLE AT GARDEN’S GATE

by Melinda Welsh on April 16, 2021
Greta Van Fleet The Battle At Garden’s Gate Lava Records There’s no denying it — Greta Van Fleet have taken a lot of flack. Whichever side of the fence you [...]
 
7.0
The Reds, Pinks & Purples

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE REDS, PINKS AND PURPLES – UNCOMMON WEATHER

by Dan Kennard on April 9, 2021
The Reds, Pinks and Purples Uncommon Weather Slumberland Records For the third year in a row, The Reds, Pinks, and Purples have released another album of gentle, hazy, [...]
Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN LENNON – JOHN LENNON/PLASTIC ONO BAN...
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GILBY CLARKE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH
6.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III IMAGINED
10
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRETA VAN FLEET – THE BATTLE AT GARDEN...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE REDS, PINKS AND PURPLES – UNCOMMON WE...
7.0
Latest Live Reviews
View All
 
Philip H. Anselmo

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS – A VULGAR DISPLAY OF PANTERA (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Gerrod Harris on April 9, 2021
71
 
This Is A Rock Show

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: OSHAWA MUSIC WEEK: THIS IS A ROCK SHOW – FEATURING REVIVE THE ROSE, THE JAILBIRDS, CIGAR CLUB, KILLER VIRGINS & MORE @ THE OSHAWA MUSIC HALL CONCERT THEATRE, OSHAWA

by Gerrod Harris on April 9, 2021
3163
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 3 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on March 18, 2021
21
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 2 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on February 18, 2021
270
 
Small Town Titans

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: SMALL TOWN TITANS @ SMT HQ, YORK (PA)

by Gerrod Harris on February 6, 2021
52
Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Week
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NOFX – SINGLE ALBUM
2169
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JON BATISTE – WE ARE
993
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHEVELLE – NIRATIAS
902
 
SPILL CONTEST: MANNEQUIN VANITY RECORDS GIVEAWAY – ENTER TO WIN A GIANT MVR PRIZE PACK!
818
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK PISTOL FIRE – LOOK ALIVE
442
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STRAWBS – SETTLEMENT
437
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DANIEL LANOIS – HEAVY SUN
375
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: SEEPEOPLES – “IT FEELS HEAVY”
363
 
SPILL FEATURE: HIS STORY RIGHT NOW – A CONVERSATION WITH cEvin Key
323
 
SPILL FEATURE: TRULY ORCHESTRATING HIS OWN LIFE – A CONVERSATION WITH RICK SPRINGFIELD
305
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 2 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)
270
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RINGO STARR – ZOOM IN
265
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: CANADA’S ‘PRINCESS OF EVERYTHING’ BIF NAKED SHARES NEW SINGLE “BROKE INTO YOUR CAR” AHEAD OF FORTHCOMING ALBUM ‘CHAMPION’
260
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES