Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 9.0
Production: 10.0
Originality: 9.0
Tracklisting
2. Testing The Strong Ones
3. Priceless
4. Take Care
5. When Paula Sparks
6. California
7. She Changes Your Mind
8. There Cannot Be A Close Second
9. Coffee
10. Walking Downtown
11. When Finally Set Free
Copeland's last split with Pacifico unleashed three noticeably louder, and although great, songs that are the mere foundations of a mature, sincere, soft rock band. The songs on Beneath Medicine Tree showcase the band's ability for a truly grown sound that will last for years.
The near-impeccable disc opens with Brightest, the piano intro that brings to mind a beautiful, mature sound that almost brought tears to my eyes. It is the PERFECT intro that leads flawlessly into Testing The Strong Ones, where yet again the singer's vocals swoon from note to note, with frequent falsettos and wonderful melodies. Similar to Coldplay vocally, the band still has textured guitars, pop hooks that are catchy and still somehow never get old, and while being mature still is bound to please even the least mature of listeners. Their walls of crunchy, loud guitars add the perfect contrast to the often calm, clean guitar sound on the disc, and are frequently mixed inbetween the swaying clean guitars.
Priceless continues the pattern of a simply tasteful and mature rock sound, and vocally again is stunning. With swaying guitars that transfer from hook to hook, the band sounds like their EP, but sounds at the same time like nothing they've ever done before. The interlude sounds magnificent: "taking for granted!!" the singer caresses, driving his falsetto with a wall of melodies behind it.
Take Care brings the tempo up a little, reminding one of the split EP, but the melodic dark hooks and undertones found in the band's developed style are as exuberant as ever. The highly personal verses of the song ("let me draw the blinds for you, you can watch the sunset from the bed in your hospital room") and utterly beautiful chorus will get stuck in anyone's head for months: "I'll take care of you, ohh, have faith that when you call my name I'll be there, i'll be right there.."
Copeland displays influences from Jimmy Eat World, Coldplay, with hints of Oasis and Jeff Buckly and even ranges from the dark melodic pop of the Goo Goo Dolls and Gin Blossoms, but without the shallow lyrics. Their sound is bound to please any age group, and the liners (designed by the band themselves) are equally as beautiful, showing photos of hospital rooms, beds, and with litmus transparency paper interwoven throughout. Obviously, Copeland's Beneath Medicine Tree stunned me on every level. Truly, this soon-to-be classic disc is easily one of the most mature, sincere, and delicately formed CD's of all time.