Hours on End – Citizen Cope
I’ve slept on Citizen Cope’s music for the last bunch of years. His latest release is last year’s Heroin & Helicopters – the title coming from a conversation Cope had with Carlos Santana long ago in San Francisco. “Stay away from the two H’s” (heroin and helicopters), Carlos passed on to Cope as a bit of advice in the music industry. Those words stuck with him.
The standout track so far for me is “Hours on End” – the groove, the chord progressions, the interesting and at times heavy lyrics. Cope has a way of mixing in the grit and grime of the real world with love, longing and matters of the heart. Great tune and a solid album altogether.New Citizen Cope – The Rainwater LP
The Rainwater LP, the new album from Citizen Cope is out digitally today ($3.99!
). I’ve had a couple of spins through so far, and like what I’m hearing. This time around, Cope (Clarence Greenwood) focuses more on social justice, poverty, and world ills rather than matters of the heart – which is admirable in itself. But I do miss having a killer love song like “Sideways” or “More Than It Seems”, or the aching “D’Artagnan’s Theme”.
Some standouts for me so far: the reggae-soul infused “Off the Ground”, the funky bass line and accompanying synth-groove of “A Father’s Son”; and songs like “Keep Askin'”, “Lifeline” and “Healing Hands”, which showcase Cope’s forte – the laid back, no nonsense urban storyteller.
There’s definitely this type of formula building in Citizen Cope’s albums – but it’s a formula that works for him, and is unmistakably unique. Clarence Greenwood has a lot to say in his lyrics. There’s a lot about the world that bugs him, and he has a way of channeling his frustrations in a peaceful, subdued fusion of soul, R&B, and rock/pop sounds. But even with his laid back demeanor, you can still feel the passion, the power, and often the anger in his music. Citizen Cope has carved out his own niche in pop music, and The Rainwater LP is another solid collection of tunes to add to an already impressive discography.
Be sure to catch Citizen Cope live. As anyone who has seen him will attest, once you do, you’re hooked in.
- AOL Music is currently offering a full stream of the album.
- And even better, you can buy The Rainwater LP MP3 album for only $3.99 here on Amazon
Incoming: Gaslight Anthem, Citizen Cope
My next two shows are in the books…
The Gaslight Anthem – September 15th – Martini Ranch, Scottsdale | I’m not crazy about the venue – right in the heart of Old Town Snottsdale – but for Brian Fallon and the boys of Gaslight Anthem, I will endure the surrounding douchery. They’re fresh off a summer festival season highlighted by a couple of guest appearances by fellow Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen, and hallelujah, they’re back in Arizona for their second appearance in 6 months. Bless you boys.
The Gaslight Anthem – Boomboxes and Dictionaries (mp3) | Official Site | Tour Dates
Citizen Cope – September 25th – Marquee Theater, Tempe | About as laid back of a stage presence as you’ll find, Citizen Cope brings the cool with a really unique mix of earthy soul & roots music. I really enjoyed my first Cope show in the same venue a year and a half ago. Part of what made it great was the presence of sexy soul songstress Alice Smith. I think she’s still tagging along with Cope – here’s hoping she’s part of it again.
Citizen Cope – Hurricane Waters (mp3) | Official Site | Tour Dates
Ickmix 3
‘Tis time for another Ickmix. This is my best one yet, if I may toot my own horn. Toot.
Take a little trip with me, yah? Oh and check my fancy intro.
Download Ickmix 3 (57MB, 41:38)
Playlist after zee jump…
Review: Citizen Cope with Alice Smith, Live at the Marquee Theater
While a mass of humanity took in Fergie’s (disappointing? gasp!) set across Town Lake at the Tempe Music Festival, we smart ones were filing into the Marquee Theater to take in D.C. / Brooklyn artist Citizen Cope. It was billed on the venue’s web site as “an evening with no support”. But I was pleasantly surprised when a tall, slender female figure took the stage at 8:10 and tore the roof of the joint with a short four song set…
Citizen Cope – D’Artagnan’s Theme
I’ve been meaning to post this song for a while now. And it’s Michael’s great Alice Smith post that spurred me into action. Alice had been opening up for Citizen Cope on his recent tour.
Cope is the pseudonym of Clarence Greenwood, and I’ve been enjoying his last couple of albums – 2004’s The Clarence Greenwood Recordings and last year’s Every Waking Moment – for a while now. They truly surprise me, as they seem to get better and better the more I listen. It was one of those iTunes shuffle moments when this song came up, and made me stop what I was doing to enjoy the laid back, semi-sad vibe.
D’Artagnan refers to Charles de Batz-Castelmore, Comte d’Artagnan, one of the the fictionalized Three Musketeers. I can’t quite figure out who the protagonist is, but the lyrics evoke an outlaw type who has no time for the woman he’s singing to.
Well I don’t know how else to say it
In a different way
But why don’t you just fade away
‘Cause there’s a battle going on
Down south of Babylon
So why don’t you just fade awayThe tune is a breeze on the acoustic guitar. C-F-G. Impress your family and friends!
This one comes from The Clarence Greenwood Recordings….
Buy: The Clarence Greenwood Recordings
| Every Waking Moment
Citizen Cope’s Official Site
Sunday Mini-Ick-Mix-Ness
A trip through a variety of tunes today…
To commemorate Paris Hilton’s first trip to the slammer, we start off with …Steve Earle and the V-Roys – In the Jailhouse Now (mp3) – from Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute
One of those songs that is perpetually in my head. “Sunday night and it’s half past nine…”
Bruce Cockburn – Northern Lights (mp3) – from Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws
Heard this on the radio a few days ago for the first time in years. Excellent tune, great lyrics… it’s Cracker…
Cracker – Eurotrash Girl (mp3) – from Greatest Hits Redux
Upon hearing this song for the first time, my three year old daughter proclaimed: “This song scares me daddy”. Daddy turned it off. Another Italian film soundtrack that I heard on David Johansen’s Mansion of Fun.
Franco Ferrara & Goffredo Petrassi – Per Cercare Consolazione (mp3) – from Cronaca Familiare (Score)
A new tune from Sri Lankan hip hop lovin’ seductress M.I.A.
M.I.A. – Hit That (mp3) – unreleased, see her wacked out MySpace page
An old school joint from Masta Ace…
Masta Ace – Born to Roll (mp3) – from Sittin’ on Chrome
To finish it off, a beautiful tune by da Cope….
Citizen Cope – Sideways (mp3) – from The Clarence Greenwood Recordings
Citizen Cope: More than it Seems
This tune is kicking me in the pants right now. Citizen Cope has that satisfying blend of soul and a rootsy acoustic vibe that I’m enjoying more and more with each listen. “More Than It Seems” just plain grooves, in a slow, pleading sort of way.
Memphis born, and reared in Texas and Washington DC, Cope now calls Brooklyn home. His third official release, Every Waking Moment, was just released on September 12th. Like many folks, “Sideways”, a Cope tune that Carlos Santana chose for his Shaman album a few years ago, first turned me on to the man. But whether you’ve heard of Citizen Cope or not, listen to this tune, and watch the video below. Like me, you may itch to hear more…
Citizen Cope: More Than It Seems (mp3) – from his Sept. 12th release, Every Waking Moment
Nice little vignette of Cope tunes and interview clips (in WMP high bandwidth)…..
