Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 8.5
Production: 8.5
Originality: 8.0
Tracklisting
2) Never Be the Same
3) Stay Right Here
4) Unforgiving
5) Night and Day
6) A Light in the Dark
Have you ever been to North Carolina?
I have.
In fact, I lived in northeastern North Carolina for the better part of my formidable years, and believe me when I tell you that good bands are few and far between in that area of the country.
Sure, there have been a few memorable bands in the indie/rock scene to rise out of the ‘Tar Heel State’ (ex. Beloved, Codeseven, Classic Case, He Is Legend), but half of these bands are unfortunately now defunct, and with the rocky state of today’s music industry, who knows what the future holds for the rest.
Enter The Verdict from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Truly a rare find indeed, this talented pop-rock band are actually, at this very moment, on a nationwide tour in support of The Early November, The Rocket Summer, and Melee.
Having recently undergone some line-up changes, the band is now a comfortable five-piece and just recently released an EP to coincide with their tour dates.
My first introduction to the group was back in 04’, when they released the songs “These are Dreams” and “Never Seen You Run” on their purevolume page. I was impressed, to say the least. Chandler’s vocal caliber immediately struck an instant comparison to one of my personal favorite vocalists John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls) and the musical backdrop was refreshing among the onslaught of screamo and hardcore bands who were overtaking the ‘scene’ at that time.
I recently remember reading that the band were now being managed by Joe Marro of The Early November, and I was excited to hear that they were still going strong.
At first glance, I was a little disappointed to see that the intro track “These Are Dreams”, appears yet again, in the same form as the band’s previous release. Set amongst the new material, it sounds much different in contrast. However, being that a lot of the kids who hear of the Verdict for the first time on this tour have never heard this song, I can definitely see why it was included among the tracklisting.
The following track, “Never Be the Same”, delivers more of a live band feeling, bringing in more electric guitars and rock-oriented bass and drums. This song, along with the next three tracks, were recorded before the addition of the two newest members, and feature Chandler singing his own backing vocals, as opposed to the lovely Kasey.
“Stay Right Here” starts out with Chandlers silky smooth vocals against gentle acoustic guitars and jingly cymbals. This is my personal favorite of the new songs on the EP. While listening to this song for the third time, that Chandler's vocal style also reminds me alot of Richard Edwards of Margot and the Nuclear So and So's...perhaps my favorite band of 2006.
Fans of older Copeland will love “Unforgiving”, but may wish to skip the song “Night and Day”, which feels out of character and out of place among the rest of the tracks. The EP closes beautifully with “A Light In The Dark”, an acoustic folk song which starts as a delightful acoustic jam session, and ends the same way.
Overall, although the tracklisting doesn’t necessarily flow from time to time, when it’s all said and done, this is a great offering by an even better band that simply serves as a hint at what’s to come from this N.C. based pop rock band. Please go and check them out on tour now, and expect big things from The Verdict.