Bad Books

The project Bad Books merges the vocal performances and compositional work of Manchester Orchestra member Andy Hull with those of independent musician Kevin Devine. Their output shifts between introspective indie rock and tense power pop, both anchored by tight vocal harmonies, and the self-titled opening release appeared in 2010. After an extended break, the group issued its third full-length, III, in 2019, replacing the rhythm section with organ textures and a broader, more cinematic palette.

Hull and Devine first connected while supporting Brand New on that act’s 2007 tour and soon began occasional joint sessions. A split EP surfaced in January 2010, just before the official launch of Bad Books. The lineup also incorporated bassist Jonathan Corley, drummer Ben Homola, and Manchester Orchestra’s Chris Freeman; the resulting debut album, Bad Books, emerged later that year on Favorite Gentlemen and Razor & Tie, entering the Billboard 200 at number 55. With further contributions from Manchester Orchestra’s Robert McDowell, the follow-up II appeared in 2012 through Favorite Gentlemen and Triple Crown Records and featured the track “Forest Whitaker,” which was placed in an episode of the CBS series How I Met Your Mother.

The band then entered a period of inactivity while Devine issued the simultaneous solo album Bulldozer and band album Bubblegum in October 2013 and Manchester Orchestra delivered the paired releases Cope and Hope in 2014. After Devine completed two additional studio albums and Manchester Orchestra released A Black Mile to the Surface in 2017, the project resumed as the trio of Hull, Devine, and McDowell. Without drums or bass, the Ethan Gruska-produced III emphasized layered vocal textures and arrived on Loma Vista in 2019.