Beneath Medicine Tree,
copelandIf 'Beneath Medicine Tree' was a girl, I would have bought it flowers, chocolates and used my best chat-up lines in an attempt to win her over. Infact, if this record was a woman, it would probably be the best woman in the world. You see this record has the looks and the personality to win over any music fan. Not content with looking the part with some amazing artwork, open this record up and let it crawl inside your heart with such intelligence and charm. Copeland literally open up their insides and let their anguish pour out. It sounds contrived I know, but this is the most brutally honest and 'emotional' record I have heard since 'Clarity'. Yes ladies and gents, it's that good. Not quite as good as that seminal Jimmy Eat World record, but certainly the best of its type since. Combine some wonderful melodies, introspective lyrics, clever vocals and intelligent use of instruments and you have a fantastic must-buy record.
The Militia Group have really come into their own in the last year and Copeland are perhaps the best band I've heard on the label yet. Acceptance and Noise Ratchet are pretty damn good, The Rocket Summer cute as a button and Brandtson add weight to a solid roster, but Copeland are the jewel in the pack. First glances show a really glossy booklet which contains some well shot pictures. The album is centered around the tragedies in vocalist Aaron's life - the illness of a girlfriend and the death of a family member. The pictures compliment the lyrics well, showing pictures of hospitals and life-saving equipment, and there's a real sentimental feel throughout.
Starting off with the gorgeous 'Breathing' (I mean the line "she says that I am the brightest little firefly in her jar" is enough to melt even the most hardened of hearts), Copeland progress as the story is told. There's a lot of reminiscing and looking back at better times, the emotionally heavy 'Testing The Strong Ones' will appeal to anyone who has lost, or is in the process of losing, a loved one, while 'Priceless' is desperate in tone. Light party music this is not. 'Take Care' is fantastic and far more upbeat, almost offering the listener hope that things will get better, while 'California' includes the clever use of an organ to slow things down again. Boy is it desperate too, with Aaron again wrenching out every last drop of emotion. There really are too many high points to mention and my words don't really do this band justice. 'There Cannot Be A Close Second' and 'Walking Downtown' are worth the CD price alone; but if you've listened this far you won't need to be won over further.
'Beneath Medicine Tree' never falls into the realms of cliche, yet maintains a diary-esque feel as the songs flick between Marsh's moods and feelings. It's cute at items, clever at others, but the end result is always the same. This is a refreshing album that is honest as they come and a welcome change from the 'emotional' music currently clogging the airwaves.
www.thecopelandsite.com
The Militia Group
Paul
