Altsounds - Copeland - Dressed Up & In Line

Chances are if you are reading this at Alt Sounds that you are very familiar with Copeland. The North Carolina band has one of the most fervent followings in the past few years. With the band about to make the leap to the majors after a very successful run on The Militia Group, they have opted to release an "odd and ends" collection for their hardcore fans. After listening to the disc a few times, what really comes across is how much better their later material is. Earlier songs like "May I Have This Dance" and "That Awful Memory of Yours" are competent enough but lack the charm of the newer selections. On these songs you hear a band still trying to find their stylistic footing. Sure, nothing sounds out of place but nothing stands out enough after the songs fade out.

There are two cover songs included on Dressed Up & In Line. The first, a complete overhaul of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun," should be applauded for its ambitious reach but ultimately never really works as more than a mere experiment. The verses are bogged down by quirky rhythm patterns that while they grab your attention never feel right within the context of the rest of the composition. Luckily the chorus is left virtually unchanged in its grunge rock glory. That brings us to Copeland's version of The Police staple "Every Breath You Take." The band doesn't mess with Sting's formula on this modern standard. If anything, Aaron Marsh's minor key flourishes play into the arrangement perfectly. The band work best in this mode. It is no wonder that Copeland's most recent album was on the quieter side. It is hard to say if Dressed Up & In Line will attract new legions of fans but what can be said with certainty is the band are getting better with age.

Carlos Ramirez