The Canvas Waiting – Chasing Color
Record Label: Independent
Release Date: November 9, 2010
I’m not usually swooned by mellow pop/rock acts. Even a big ticket like Copeland waxes soporific to me at best. I’m not playing the hipster card here – if anything, I’d enjoy these artists in an ideal world. But we don’t live in a world anything close to ideal, so for the time being, no, I don’t particularly adore Copeland. Add some “rock” to your mellow pop/rock, though – a la Brightwood – and I’ll probably change my mind. And indeed, The Canvas Waiting has more in common with Brightwood than they do with Copeland. On Chasing Color, their mellifluous melodies frequently bloom into dynamic choruses, and that’s already more than enough to hold my attention.
“Ghosts” is the album’s clear centerpiece, delving into hazy introspection that questions what reality truly is: “I seem to be a puzzle piece that fits but blurs the scene… I fall in love with ghosts, it’s easier than you’d think.” Or, it could simply be another elaborate metaphor for a turbulent relationship. Either way, the chorus hits with such atmosphere it hardly matters; I’m swept up in its urgency like a feather in a tornado. “Streets of Gold” is beautiful for different reasons, lamenting the absurdity of both faith and science over Acceptance-y music. “I just do what I’m told, and hope that the words from these pages can save my soul,” it moans. “I just do what I’m told, the doctors hang over my body while speaking in tongues, so I let them poison my veins so that I can grow old.”
Chasing Color doesn’t hack desperately at genre boundaries, and it seems more than content to stick to the status quo. That might disinterest some casual fans, but it shouldn’t drive away pop/rock aficionados any more than it should intrigue them. The Canvas Waiting operates with a no-frills mentality: They’ve got an idea of what they do best, and they’ve put all their energy into perfecting it. Chasing Color isn't immaculate by any means, but it does showcase a genuity that’s backed by energy. And that’s the kind of mellow pop/rock I can appreciate.
Great review, except you forgot to mention one of the most amazing songs on this EP - An Island Now. It's a must you check it out before deciding how you feel about band.
I understand, they're not everyone's cup of tea. My fanboy feelings about them just happened to cry on the inside when reading that haha.
Haha yeah I thought it might've been a fanboy comment but I thought I'd go ahead and clear it up that I respect Copeland but just can't get into them so nobody accuses me of being elitist haha.
Haha yeah I thought it might've been a fanboy comment but I thought I'd go ahead and clear it up that I respect Copeland but just can't get into them so nobody accuses me of being elitist haha.
I don't think Copeland is a type of band that, if denied or rejected, instantly makes someone a hipster or elitist. Just not your thing. But that's probably subjective and I'm not into smacking labels of elitism or hipsterism on anyone just because they don't dig one of my favorites.
Also, I applaud this review. It got me interested in the band and I'll probably throw a few listens to them tomorrow.
I don't think Copeland is a type of band that, if denied or rejected, instantly makes someone a hipster or elitist. Just not your thing. But that's probably subjective and I'm not into smacking labels of elitism or hipsterism on anyone just because they don't dig one of my favorites.
Also, I applaud this review. It got me interested in the band and I'll probably throw a few listens to them tomorrow.
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