Grace Hotel
  Overall rating: +++-

Album Reviews

Copeland's songs are perfect for the emotional soul. Whether you're in a happy or sad state, their strong sense of melody and smart pop sensibilities are certain to make your day.

Just the right notes struck on the guitar intertwine over top of perfectly mapped out drums and bass that solidly hold the beat; crowned complete by heartfelt vocals, highlighted by great harmonies. It's hard not to compare them to current emo favorites, but know that they do what they do well, with precision and professionalism.

Beneath Medicine Tree is a solid record, one that is steeped in intricate melodies and beautiful compositions.

~ Christopher Wiitala

It’s not often, that a CD actually leaves me speechless. In fact I can only remember one instance where this happened, and that was the first listen of Blue Skies, Broken Hearts… by The Ataris. So when a CD graces my stereo and is able to do this by the third song, it must be something big. Scrap big, it must be something phenomenal. The CD in question is ‘Beneath Medicine Tree’, by the band, Copeland.

With most record labels snapping up any emo-esque band they can find, this leads to a ‘scream by numbers’ approach, but through the vast, over populated, market of dark haired, floppy fringed musicians, there are always the odd rare gem that literally slaps you in the face and makes you rethink, your view on music and Copeland have been able to do this.

The band literally leads you hand by hand through 10 songs of pure emotional bliss. The opening track, Brightest is by far one of my favorites on the album, due to its simplicity, but pure beauty. The lyrics are brilliant within their own right. “She said I was the brightest fire fly in her jar” is one of the best and most thought provoking lines I’ve heard in a long time. This album ranges from the down tempo, beautiful melodies of tracks such like ‘California’, ‘Coffee’ and ‘Priceless’, to the upbeat ‘Take Care’ and the blistering ‘Walking Downtown’ and does so seamlessly. The highlight of this incredible CD for me has to be Priceless, with its lyrics tinged with desperation and a dreamlike composition. So grab a box of tissues, and a cup of Horlicks, and sit back and relax to one of *the* albums of 2003, because my words could never do this band justice.

~ Ciaran Watkins

This CD gives me chills the whole way threw, and not the kind of chills you get like the ones when someone runs their nails on a chalkboard. I mean the kind of chills you get when you hear a really great singer or CD, the kind that draws you in and doesn’t let you go till it’s all finished kind of chills. This CD is so extraordinary that you can’t help but love it every song from the beginning to the end.

The music alone puts you in a melodic trance of such a beautiful state. It’s melodic with a hint of indie. Everything low key soft toned fitting perfectly with their lead singer who I have to add has such a beautiful voice I’d faint at their concert and trust me that has never happened alright. It sounds emo but it’s more uplifting then emo is which makes this so hard to categorize. I’d say the music is a little like Tooth and Nails new band Mae but with no acid rock tones in there, which is good because it makes these guys different. And the usage of the piano is just amazing. They’re music is just so hard to explain but it’s perfectly put together and well worth listening to.

The leads voice and lyrics, are so *takes your breath away* his lyrics are most defiantly in an emo state of mind but written completely different then most emo lyrics. Though they have some of the lyrical means in common the way his are written make you feel without making you depressed yet they're the uplifting kind. You could honestly listen to this guy sing for hours without getting bored, a headache, or annoyed.

These guys talent is so unexplainable it’s the kind of sheer greatness you have to hear for yourself. This CD is the kind your keep for years, in your “I still listen to pile” instead of being thrown to the side with the rest of the CDs you don’t play anymore. It’ great for anyone to hear no matter what kind of genre you listen to you’d love these guys as much as I do. They will definitely have a spot when it comes to my vote of the Best of 2003.

~ Atari