Picked up my copy of Manchester Orchestra's latest offering "Cope" over lunch today. I've listened to it about 3 times and I can safely say that it's a recommended buy for those of you who are familiar with this band or the band Bad Books.

I'm sorta struggling with whom to compare this band to... there's a ground swell of indie acts right now and Manchester Orchestra are on the end that is releasing thoughtful and beautifully produced albums.

I read this morning that the album Cope was recorded in the city of Atlanta in a house that the band members used to live in at some point. They sound proofed the place and made it a recording studio. I don't know what it costs to do that in 2014... I'm pretty sure it isn't as cost prohibitive as it once was, but what I'm trying to get at is that bands typically produce some really memorable material when they decide to hole themselves up in a unique space to record music.

There's a very specific sound and tone to this record... If you don't care for the opening track "Top Notch" - you can pretty much turn your back on this record. The album leans incredibly forward on whatever guitar fuzz pedal they've decided to leave on for the entire record. It sorta reminds me of the sound that's on the Weezer GREEN album and Jimmy Eat Worlds - Bleed American. Not the "fuzz" but there's a very specific tone to those records and they pretty much take their cue from the opening tracks.

I'm looking insanely forward to seeing them play live in Austin in 2 weeks...

Stand out tracks:

Artists: Manchester Orchestra
Album: Cope
Producer: Dan Hannon, Manchester Orchestra
Label: Loma Vista Recordings, Favorite Gentlemen, Republic Records
Recorded: In a House In Atlanta

Despite getting up well after 9 AM, I had an unusually productive day. The highlight of the weekend was getting to exchange Valentines Day gifts with my niece, Hobbes.

Had to cut my visit a little short because of some urgent correspondence needed for work... so I spent time this afternoon at home spinning records while cursing aloud in the empty apartment.

Listened to a Kevin Devine album I picked up last year on vinyl, but never got around to listening to it. I had a vintage Technics turntable that was gifted to me over a year ago and it's been known to not want to work every now and again.

The issue with the turntable has to do with the design of the automatic direct drive technology. It's designed to be fully automated and it inexplicably bottoms out in its process... according to the web, it's a quick of sorts with the turntable, so you have to live with that or replace it.

I had an opportunity to sell back some vacation time at work so I spent some of that hard earned money on a new Stanton turntable. I plan to do a proper write up on it in the near future... I can't express how happy I am with the purchase.

Anyhoo, no more temperamental record players at the apartment - which means more obscure Album A Day Reviews in the near future.

The Kevin Devine album was an enjoyable listen... I was familiar with a number of the songs because they've been re-arranged on the amazing Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band – Matter of Time: Kd&Gdb Tour EP 2012.

Stand Out Tracks:

Artist: Kevin Devine
Album: Between the Concrete and Clouds
Producer: Chris Bracco
Label: Razor & Tie / Favorite Gentlemen
Recorded: ? (Chris Bracco's house?)

Manchester Orchestra - Cope

Kevin Devine - Between the Concrete and Clouds

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