When I first heard Copeland a couple of years ago, they sounded like an okay cross between a guitar-pop group like The Gin Blossoms and the low key acoustic emo of Coldplay. Fortunately, their sound has matured. Their new album Eat, Sleep, Repeat is replete with confident songwriting ability and Aaron Marsh’s lush and exotic vocals. The band now stands among the pantheon of emo rockers, including the UK’s Keane and the seminal Death Cab for Cutie.
Part of the problem with this style of music is it tends to be a little whiny at times. However, every song on Eat, Sleep, Repeat is an absolute gem. Marsh and his ensemble of Bryan Laurenson on guitars, James Likeness on bass, and Jonathan Bucklew on drums, craft an album of songs that is intelligent, contemplative, and varies in mood and temperament. The album begins with the whisper of vibes on “Where’s My Head”, and then takes you on a journey of guitar interplay with various percussion samples while Marsh croons. It mixes splendidly with the heavy guitar effects sported on the title track, which grinds a bit too much like Coldplay, but has a much edgier, experimental feel.
Other standout songs include the piano based “Careful Now”, “I’m Safer in an Airplane”, “I’m A Sucker for a Kind Word”, and the final track, the devastatingly haunting “When You Thought You’d Never Stand Out”. Each track features beautifully sludgy guitar riffs, tight rhythm sections, and evocative lyrics. In a small way, Eat, Sleep, Repeat reminds me of the developmental solo work of former Japan guitarist/vocalist David Sylvian, especially the Brilliant Trees album. The only difference is Copeland restricts their work to rock unlike the avant-garde jazz influence of Sylvian’s work. Still, you can feel Copeland stretching and growing here, pushing out the inside of the envelope and daring new territories for emo-oriented rock.
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