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Printer-Friendly ModeLatest Copeland release pleasant, if unexceptional
November 6, 2006 —
The sticker on the front of Copeland's latest CD compares singer Aaron Marsh to iconic indie folkster Sufjan Stevens. Perhaps there is some similarity in terms of talent, but when it comes to the songs that they write the two couldn't be any more different.
Eat, Sleep, Repeat is not the somber non-rock that Stevens produces on a regular basis.
Rather, this Copeland disc is light, piano-driven rock that at times sounds like - dare I say it - a lot of those Radiohead-influenced bands that emerged in the late 90s. and beyond.
That's not to say Copeland sound a whole lot like Radiohead. Actually "My Iron Lung" rocks a lot harder than anything Copeland has ever released. But the music on Eat, Sleep, Repeat creates an atmosphere reminiscent of the stuff created by the Thom Yorke who didn't like techno too much.
Remember "Karma Police" and "High and Dry?" These are the kinds of songs that come to mind when I listen to Copeland.
Call me crazy, I guess, because my comparison probably seems as distant as the one on the outside of the Eat, Sleep, Repeat CD case.
Copeland are not Radiohead, and they are certainly not Sufjan Stevens, nor are they trying to be.
To be fair, Copeland are their own band and should be heard to understand what they are all about. It's a love it or leave it situation with these guys, really. Their songs are pleasant but at the same time easy to ignore and pass off as background music.
Similarly, Marsh's voice is pretty, but grows tiresome after a few tracks because there is little range in his singing.
Some might find the music beautiful, others might find it dull. I find it easy to fall asleep to. I don't mean that in a bad way, either.
"The Last Time He Saw Dorie" (yes that is the name of a song here) is possibly the standout track of the disc, featuring a great string arrangement toward the end.
"I'm a Sucker for a Kind Word" comes in a close second, though, being a great upbeat song to break the monotony of the album.
Other notable songs include "By My Side" and the title track of the disc. There are some songs that won't be remembered, but I expected that before I even removed the plastic from the case.
In the end, fans of the band will likely enjoy Eat, Sleep, Repeat. It doesn't stray much from the formula that the band has followed in the past.
Plus, Copeland delivers an album that is a deeper, richer experience than most music you'll find out there, no offense to popular radio bands like Hinder.
But this disc is still not something I can listen to very frequently. It's okay for an occasional listen, but it won't become an everyday CD for me.
I'm not denying the artistic quality of Copeland's music, I just don't want to doze off in the car.