Eat, Sleep, Repeat,
copeland
I really, really liked Copeland's first album. I quite liked the second one too, although 'In Motion' lost its appeal over time and I haven't listened to it for quite some time. Over the first dozen or so listens, 'Eat, Sleep, Repeat' comes across as a beautiful record - majestic and mature, dare I say it, the thinking mans' Keane. Yet I fear there's something missing here that makes this the band's worst record yet, even if it's not bad by any stretch of the imagination. I guess Copeland are merely victims of their own success.
For those unacquainted with Copeland, the band play a piano-led rock-esque sound that is becoming influenced by the likes of Muse and Radiohead. Aaron Marsh is the band's secret weapon, as the vocalist's falsetto, whispery vocals come across as ghost-like and separate them out from the pack of other clone 'emo' bands knocking about. Whereas the band started their career with a far more melodic and, perhaps, catchy sound, they've become well-rounded musicians who have formed their own little niche and, to be honest, it's very well performed. Marsh is a very good singer, often using his voice to guide each track in the right direction, using it as an instrument in its own right. This means many of the songs on this record tend to drift along nicely, following the vocalist's soothing tones. At times, mind you, it means Copeland drift off into background music and there were a few occasions listening to this record that I struggled to distinguish which track was which.
But that's just my mind wandering. Because this is a very impressive musical record, one which I am sure will gain them a lot of new fans, as well as keep the older ones pleased. Copeland have grown up into a very strong band, breaking the emo shackles reviewers like me had probably bound them to previously. It may not be as instant, but it's still very majestic.
» Listen on Myspace
