SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BAD BOOKS – III

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.

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