Bad Books // III

Favorite Gentlemen

It's been nearly seven years since indie supergroup Bad Books released their sophomore album, II. But the band's members have certainly been busy since then — Andy Hull and Robert McDowell (who make up half of Manchester Orchestra) released Cope and A Black Mile to the Surface in the interim, while Kevin Devine released Bulldozer, Bubblegum, and Instigato. Surprisingly, III follows none of their creative leads, opting for a minimalist, largely acoustic collection of ballads and personal storytelling. This is an interesting move, as III completely separates itself from the band's back catalog. It doesn't hurt that the songs are mostly quite strong; "Lake House" details the pain of a family trying to stay together, while "Neighborhood" is the first overtly political song Andy Hull has ever penned. Devine, on the other hand, has never been shy to make his thoughts heard, and some of his takes here ("I Love You, I'm Sorry, Please Help Me, Thank You") stand next to his best. III's weakness sits in a lack of variety, or any attempt at some kind of propulsive energy. It's a polarizing decision, but one that may be rewarding to listeners in the long run. — Aaron Mook