High Voltage Magazine

Copeland - Eat, Sleep, Repeat

posted by High Voltage Staff | Tuesday, October 31, 2006 | 12:44 PM
Copeland
Eat, Sleep, Repeat
(Militia)

Copeland is a band known for singer-songwriter Aaron Marsh's devastating vocal acrobatics and meticulously crafted lyrics with help from drummer Bryan Laurelson. The band's second release, In Motion, caught some longtime fans off guard with its more aggressive approach in the song arrangements. On Eat, Sleep, Repeat, Marsh and company have found the perfect balance between the melodic dance that was their debut release Beneath the Medicine Tree, and the independence of each track on their latest release, which makes the jump from indie label The Militia Group to major label Columbia Records complete.

The title track asks "Is it any surprise that you feel so overwhelmed / Do you think it's unwise to go and break yourself on this one?" In the same breath its seems Marsh answers his own question replying "All this time you didn't know love." "I'm a Sucker For a Kind Word" has the narrator questioning not only security in his relationship, but also that of his lover. It seems his mind races just as fast as his heart.

Copeland are pros at incorporating piano and string sections into their work almost forcing fans to picture their songs in their minds. In "When You Thought You'd Never Standout" you can hear the doubt and accidental support found by the end of the song with lines like "Didn't I see you when you thought you'd never stand out." "Careful Now" warns of repeating mistakes of the past while the piano driven "Love Affair" shows off Marsh's knack for melody and layering. "By My Side" explores the issue of pessimistic doubt and hurt pride in a doomed relationship and a "world without peace"; similar to that of an airplane plummeting to the ground but all the while sounding like a lullaby. The album as a whole is a narrative of relationships in their ever changing states. The doubt, hope, fear that embodies the one thing everyone strives to have - love in its purest form, however it may come. — Naimah Holmes

MySpace | Official Site | The Militia Group | Columbia Records

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video of the day : alala (css)

posted by Just M! | Monday, October 23, 2006 | 8:09 PM
According to Melissa...

You should never invite a bunch of Brazilians wearing fluffy dresses to a pool party. But if you do, remember to put your dog away so there aren't any crazy altercations ... like in the following:

"Alala" - Cansei de Ser Sexy (that's CSS for you cool kids)

Runner up video was K-Fed getting smacked down. It's about time someone hurt that guy. Check that out here. Sure it's all fake but I could watch that over and over again.

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band of the day : NYPC

posted by Just M! | Friday, October 20, 2006 | 10:27 PM
According to Melissa...

So yeah, I don't do this often... or at least consistently to the point where it's an actual feature. Let's pretend for a second that I share a new band every day; every day you read this blog (we're pretending, remember?) and you come across the "band of the day" feature (still pretending). Your curiosity compels you to click on the featured band. Your ears are then assaulted with sounds that blow your senses out of orbit. PRETEND! Well I've got one for your ear drums to dance on beat to.

New Young Pony Club
This is the part I hate, trying to persuade you to listen to a band just because I said so. Who cares what I have to say. I like what I like, just like you like what you like. This band makes me dance in my seat (or in my bed since that is where I am right now. Don't get kinky, now). I'm a fan of the "'80s sound." ("new wave" if you will) Give me heavy synths, flashy lasers as I call them, and gnarly dance beats any day. I am one happy camper. With that said, I like this band. Give them a listen, just a quickie (again, no kinky business). If you don't like, I'll give you back your money... yeah.

"Get Lucky" and "Ice Cream" are definitely worth a few listens. C'mon, what do you have to lose besides a few minutes of your life? Trust me, you would've used those minutes on something far less productive. You know it's true.

on MySpace
Official site

For you people out there who need visual aids, here's a little something for your eyeballs:

"Ice Cream" video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EJCPp9zJh8

Now tell me you don't like this band! Haahaa. So in love with them right now.

PS: They are currently our spotlight artists! Check 'em out here!

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VAN GUNN

posted by High Voltage Staff | Wednesday, October 18, 2006 | 6:47 PM

Howdy boys and girls!

We've got a new and exciting band for all of you to check out. Their bringing back a sound that hasn't been around nearly enough and coming soon to a venue near you is, VAN GUNN.

Signed to Retone Records, Van Gunn is celebrating their debut album by heading out on their first US tour. Covering as much of the states as they can in an one month period before coming home to rest and starting all over again. Their a five piece from Holland now living in West Hollywood, CA. Looking into the future, Van Gunn is bringing back true guitar driven rock n roll, before the rest of the industry catches on. This will be the next fad in music and we love it! Think Thin Lizzy, Bon Jovi, AC/DC type stuff. And if that's not good enough, their cute too ;)

Check out some goodies on their myspace, particularly their introduction video which they customized for myspace. What a cool idea!

http://www.myspace.com/vangunn

Also, if you happen to be in one of the following towns during one of the following dates... then check out their live show! We guarantee it to be a quite rockin' show! These guys never disappoint.

OCT 19 ---- THE WHEELHOUSE BAR ----- HEMET, CA
OCT 20 ---- THE CAT CLUB ----- HOLLYWOOD, CA
OCT 21 ---- BRAINWASH ----- SAN FRANCISCO, CA
OCT 23 ---- THE CIRCUIT ----- MIDVALE, UT
OCT 24 ---- 3 KINGS TAVERN ----- DENVER, CO
NOV 1 ---- ABBEY LOUNGE ----- SOMERVILLE, MA
NOV 5 ---- JAXX ----- WEST SPRINGFIELD, VA
NOV 8 ---- THE NICK ----- BIRMINGHAM, AL
NOV 11 ---- DOUBLE WIDE ----- DALLAS, TX
NOV 12 ---- DAN ELECTRO'S BAR ----- HOUSTON, TX
NOV 13 ---- TROPHY'S ----- AUSTIN, TX
NOV 20 ---- SAFARI SAM'S ----- HOLLYWOOD, CA
NOV 22 ---- CLUB TEMPEST ----- W. HOLLYWOOD, CA

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John Mayer - Continuum

posted by High Voltage Staff | Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | 12:25 PM
John Mayer
Continuum
(Sony)

Continuum is John Mayer's third studio album and first turn at producer. He predicts the future of a damned relationship on "Slowdancing In a Burning Room," fights nature and emotional foes in "Gravity," and tries to keep what's his in "Vultures." This is Mayer's most cohesive work to date. Gone are the worries of high school politics and more mature issues accompany Mayer's beautifully woven guitar playing and sultry voice. With the release of 2005's Try! as the John Mayer Trio, a live jazz influenced album, Continuum is the most logical step for this detail-oriented artist. — Naimah Holmes

MySpace | Official Site

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Cold War Kids - Robbers and Cowards

posted by High Voltage Staff | Tuesday, October 10, 2006 | 1:00 PM
Cold War Kids
Robbers and Cowards
(Downtown Recordings)

If you ever wondered if redemption and regret had a sound, it does. You can find that and more on Cold War Kids' Robbers and Cowards. A husband and father whose alcoholism is taking ahold of him in "We Used to Vacation" he warns no one in particular "I promised to my wife and children I'd never touch another drink in my life again / But even then it sounds so soothing to mix a drink and sink into oblivion." "Hang Me Up to Dry" is a wise choice as a first single with a chorus that begs its listener to end it all wailing "Now hang me up to dry, you wrung me out too too too many times."

The men of Cold War Kids have surely made their mark in the snobby genre of indie rock, by blending gangly guitars, a singers' tortured and soothing voice, and an atmosphere all their own. The songs seem to be an confession for its characters; while they may be able to admit their wrongs, we don't expect change from them. Robbers and Cowards has a sense of familiarity to it, like running into a friend you haven't seen in years while drowning your sorrows in a bottle at 3AM. — Naimah Holmes

MySpace | Official Site | Downtown Recordings

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