My love for all things Bad Books and Kevin Devine are well documented on this blog... one part of the Bad Books is composed of members that perform in a band called Manchester Orchestra.

I listened to a number of tracks off of Cope in advance of the album coming out and I wasn't quite sure what to make of it really...

The album sorta drips with a specific sound. A loud, crunchy, guitar power chord buffet that reminded me of Jimmy Eat World's BLEED AMERICAN...

It wasn't until I caught them live that I realized this album and more importantly the sound within is more like a very focused Built to Spill record. I've listened to this album a number of different ways... at home on my turntable, in my car while driving, live in concert and mainly on headphones.

The album kinda captured a specific window of time for me in early 2014 and I think that's why I look back on it so fondly. The band later went on to re-record this album in an acoustic setting and released it as HOPE.

That release felt a little self indulgent... despite having beautiful re-arrangements. If I re-numbered my top 20 this afternoon, I think this would have slipped a number of slots.

Recommended tracks: