Copeland
Eat, Sleep, Repeat

(The Militia Group/Columbia)

First Appeared in The Music Box, February 2007, Volume 14, #2

Written by John Metzger

There’s no disputing the fact that most indie outfits do not wish to remain sovereign entities forever. The whole point of their existence is to create enough of a buzz that they become affiliated with a major label. For many ensembles, however, such a transition becomes the end rather than the beginning of a journey. Flush with money, most groups cling to their past while also simultaneously dressing their work with so much pizzazz that they lose sight of the very reasons that they originally became popular. It’s no wonder that they subsequently fade back into anonymity.

One of the more recent success stories revolves around the Florida-based band Copeland. After its sophomore effort In Motion sold enough copies to debut at #115 on Billboard’s album chart, the group signed with Columbia. Yet, rather than squander its good fortune, Copeland put the sizeable recording budget that it had at its disposal to good use on its ambitiously crafted new endeavor Eat, Sleep, Repeat. Rather than setting a few decent, if nondescript, emo songs adrift in a sea of filler, the ensemble stretched its wings considerably and produced a fully cohesive song cycle that successfully lays the groundwork for a very promising future.

Draping its emo ballads with both the disorienting atmospherics of Radiohead as well as the psychedelic pop of The Beatles, Copeland not only avoided stagnation, but it also, more often than not, steered clear of the musical mediocrity that has plagued other like-minded outfits. Granted, there are a few moments on Eat, Sleep, Repeat when Copeland played it safe. The ensemble’s infectious but drab, new single Control Freak is a prime example. Yet, the truth of the matter is that had it not hedged its bets, the album would have been an even bigger personal triumph. Nevertheless, the band’s inspired gambles resulted in some rather delightful surprises, the most notable of which are the Bacharach-ian strings and horns that emerge from Love Affair and the symphonic beauty that envelopes The Last Time He Saw Dorie. Although its lyrics continue to expose its emo past, Copeland clearly is well on its way toward accomplishing bigger things.

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Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2007 The Music Box