Copeland's In Motion Moves Beyond Sophomore Standard
By Christopher Neiger, 04.15.05
For many bands, the second full-length album is more of a testing than the first. Copeland’s “In Motion” manages to reach the sophomore standard and then keeps going.
On their first album, “Beneath Medicine Tree,” lead vocalist and songwriter, Aaron Marsh, said that the majority of their songs were written when a couple people closest to him were in the hospital. On the band’s “Know Nothing Stays the Same EP,” which came out this past fall, Copeland covered some of their favorite songs including Carly Simon’s “Coming Around Again” and Billy Joel’s “She’s Always a Woman.”
“In Motion,” however, shows off a harder side of the band when it kicks off the first song with a rock ‘n’ roll drumstick countdown and distorted electric guitars on “No One Really Wins.” This first song is a foreshadow of the rest of the tracks and allows committed followers know that this album is not going to “promise to have you home before daylight” like “Beneath Medicine Tree” did.
After listening to the first few songs, it’s evident that Copeland has expanded their range of sound since their first album, yet they haven’t sacrificed any of their artistic personality. This is evident in songs such as “Kite.” The song immediately sets you back to the early twentieth century with the sound of filmstrip slapping against a projector with the only instruments being an accordion and piano.
Copeland’s display of who they really are right now though comes out on the track “Love is a Fast Song.” The song asks, “What has love become?” Then says, “You should not be angry if all she wants is your money/ You should not be angry cause all you want is her body.” The song explains how love is not what it used to be, but that there is a love out there that sets the heart in motion. It is a slow love song and fast love song.
For some fans, “In Motion” may seem to be a little bit of a let down from the last album, but there’ is no doubt debating that Copeland has expanded their sound and shown off their talent once again.
