I don’t really know where to begin with this one. Copeland is a band that I first heard about a year ago from a friend who had just bought their Dressed Up & In Line album. He popped it in the stereo, and I quickly noticed its originality and quiet beauty. From then on, Copeland became one of my artists to watch. This year’s You Are My Sunshine record was an easy purchase and made a great Tooth and Nail debut for the band.

I must first say that this album feels a lot like Copeland often does- A mysterious masterpiece, shrouded in quiet innocence and harbored in humble genius. It seems like something of a brief accident; not for the band of course, but for the listener. An accident where a listener is going about their daily life and is suddenly interrupted by astoundingly angelic music, only to be released from its hypnotic grasp a good 45 minutes later. It’s something that seems to come and go so quickly, yet is so unbelievable that the listener is left speechless. At least, this is how my You Are My Sunshine experience felt.

You Are My Sunshine begins immediately, something like a perfectly lined up record might begin when the needle lands softly upon its sacred vinyl surface. “Should You Return” has no intro, no fade in, no warm up piece, but instead, it jumps right into its first lines: “You see the night is all I have to make me fear…” Like a choir, like an colorful shower of northern lights, like reading a timeless letter aloud.. Yet still all and none of these things describe the deep, and somehow demanding sound of the track.

Then comes piano-led “The Grey Man.” Sweet falsettos blend in seamlessly with heavy harmonies and drizzling drums. Soft hooks are sweetened by distant guitar phrases. It’s overwhelming in the most comfortable, welcoming way that I cannot explain to you. “Chin Up” follows with an honest monologue of soothing vocal blends and retrospective lyrics. The palpably cushioning percussion is notable, as well as the memorable melody and perfectly simple strings.

“Good Morning Fire Eater” is an easy candidate for the best track on the album. It’s layered simplicity is key, but the pure genius of the melody mold is gratefully unavoidable. Self-aware drums pulse confidently as sensitive guitar notes reveal a depth in the song. The vocals almost somehow take a backseat in the mix, shifting the emphasis to the drums and effected guitar. This shift is unexpected and truly unnoticed, if you don’t stop to think about it.

Melody regains front seat in “To Be Happy Now,” as the vocals drip into the microphone and swallow the syncopated drum strokes in continuity. Dark piano is kept alive in short, stray electric guitar notes, and the whole thing together sounds something like what an ancient story set to music might sound like. “The Day I Lost My Voice (The Suitcase Song)” features a reluctant swing and a vocal-keyboard duo. Lyrics are also a notable component to this pleasantly sleepy song; “What could be an anchor here, with a storm on the rise / When you never meant to see so clear / When smoke gets in your eyes / And the men in the moon never makes his replies understood..” Rae Cassidy Klagstad’s guest voice are a perfect match for the arrangement here, complimenting the tone and personality of the track.

“On the Safest Ledge” is a light-headed, airy shuffle of beautifully balanced vocals and Catharic tones. The arrangement goes from shy and masterfully unsure to full and openly blissful. “The TV talks the fear right out of you” is just one of many descriptive lyrical phrases built in to this track. Klagstad again lends her voice for a raw, and honestly emotional sound.

“Not Allowed” almost sounds like the second half of “On the Safest Ledge,” following in a relative key and feel. The band gets extra points for addicting melody in this one. Drums like a heartbeat run simultaneously with regretful lyrics, creating a very real and contagious atmosphere. “Strange and Unprepared” is another well-crafted tune; short, sweet, and to an instantly memorable point. The melody hooks are slightly more prevalent here amidst the charming, mostly unaccompanied keys. It’s like a modern hymn; not so much in lyric, but mainly because of its inexplicable innocence and ambient presence.

“What Do I Know?” is a slightly more upbeat piece with varying rhythmic accents and arrangements. The alternating attributes I just mentioned keep the song interesting as well as give it some originality. Keenly-placed notes also contribute to the success of the song.

“Not So Tough Found Out” is a mesmerizing closing statement. It recaps some of the key features heard throughout the record; Intimate vocal harmony, relatable soundscapes, intense structure evolution.. It’s just a successfully solemn recording. Ghostly piano and keyboards float in close proximity with haunting vocal melodies. A steady build slowly crawls across the speakers and crests towards the middle of the track. It then backs out to allow a radiant reprise to fall into place, becoming the song’s foundation. The last few minutes of the track are comprised of content keys and concentrated drums. This creates an appropriate fadeout for the song and appeases an anxious listener.

I now arrive at the end of my third full listen to You Are My Sunshine, and I can’t begin communicate to you how awestruck and inspired I am by Copeland’s hard work on this album. However; I am not going to give the album a traditional rating for this record. As the saying goes, “There is a time and a place for everything.” What I mean by this is, You Are My Sunshine is one of the best albums of the past ten years; however, you have to be in the right mindset to fully appreciate its contents. If you are too flippant, you will miss the profound joy expressed in these songs. If you are too serious, you will overanalyze and end up confused and frustrated.

All I can say is that this is something you need to get. Don’t ruin the moment though; wait until you have 45 minutes of one-hundred percent free space and time, and then let the music soak in all at once. Especially if you are an indie music lover, You Are My Sunshine is a classic of its era. Brilliant.

You can purchase You Are My Sunshine digitally or as a CD from Amazon.

/ Posted: Nov 19, 2008
/ Written by: Matt S.
/ Category: Album Reviews
/ Artist(s): Copeland