Citizen Cope Albums (3)
What The Critics Say
There are a number of artists -- Everlast, G. Love, Mat Kearney -- who, while staying firmly within blues and rock, bring in hip-hop tendencies, with varying degrees of success. Citizen Cope is another one who could be added to that group, although the only "rap" he actually incorporates into his music is relegated to an occasional singsongy, quickly spoken line and some internal rhyme. This, along with the characters he created and sang about, was what won him fans on his first two albums, and it's something he continues onto his next. For Every Waking Moment, however, Cope has a slightly broader approach to his songwriting, telling more abstract stories that aim toward the universal rather than the specific. He has that gruff, world-weary kind of voice that sounds like it's seen a few too many things and had a few too many whiskeys, and the band does a pretty good job of taking a standard bluesy line and embellishing it until it almost shines. The best track on the entire album, in fact, is "Awe," an instrumental, because it allows room for them to show off some of their many influences, and ends up with some nice Latin and blues-tinged acoustic guitar-driven rock. It's nothing extraordinary, but the groove is pretty tight, the horns are clean, and the drums are intricate and fun, and it works well with the rest of Every Waking Moment. Cope's catchy, melodic lyrics are here as well ("I got a Brother named Lee who looks a lot like me/He's got a lot of enemies," he sings on "Brother Lee"), and the album should please fans of any of his previous work. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide
'The Clarence Greenwood Recordings'
Release Date 9/14/2004
Tracks 11
Label RCA
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
When a singer/songwriter fights the big record label -- in this case Dreamworks -- because the label doesn't understand the artist's vision, then buys back a record so he can find someone else who cares enough to release it, it's admirable and has a "this must be good" allure for sure. One listen to The Clarence Greenwood Recordings and you might have a guess at why Dreamworks said "no." It's a wandering album, one that Greenwood's fan base can connect with, but more difficult for everyone else. The timely "people wanna bomb us" number, "Bullet and a Target," is the album's centerpiece single; it presents a shock-value laundry list of depressing situations, Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" for the Dave Matthews generation. Elsewhere a vagrant falls in deep love with a billboard and D'Artagnan meets his match. From there it gets more undecipherable, but it's a record he fought hard for and his fans will love trying to figure it all out. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
If there were such a thing as an urban beatnik, Citizen Cope, aka Clarence Greenwood, would be it. His unique message-oriented self-titled debut is in the spirit of music by Wyclef Jean and Arrested Development, but rich in his own brand of underground street stylings, which find their flavor in the sounds and soul of the Deep South. The album combines an ever-so-slight bit of island flavor, R&B, hip-hop, smoky-club lounge, and blues. The former live keyboardist and DJ for Basehead fills his songs -- which are often cool, laid-back, and understated -- with messages surrounding the struggles of life, but more so, street life. And Greenwood's voice is smooth and full of yearning, but not over the top. It can be likened to the style of Maxwell. Listeners, whatever they take from this innovative disc, will no doubt walk away feeling as if they just exited a small, hole-in-the-wall club -- the kind that oozes character and atmosphere -- at six AM, squinting at the blaring morning sun. There are many winning moments on this disc. "Contact" describes how cops sometimes wrongfully stop and even arrest youth. The slow and shuffling "If There's Love" is steeped in Southern blues flavor and portrays love's power to lift the human spirit in a difficult world. Elsewhere, "Salvation" and "Holdin' On," in their understated and minimalist approach, are the disc's home runs. The bare yet abundant tracks feature a shuffling snare and brush playing, with Greenwood's haunting and raspy voice floating on top. Greenwood is an artist with very personal and social messages on his mind. His outlet for these thoughts is a musical soundtrack in a class all by itself. Whether the theme is perseverance, street hustling, or lust, Greenwood gets his point across loud and clear in his modest approach, and captivates audiences with his cool and hypnotic brand of underground street music. After listening to this choice disc, it becomes clear as to why Greenwood chose Citizen Cope as his performing name. He, like everyone else, is just trying to live through the day, as his music suggests. For those looking for an inspiring, creative, and refreshing outlet to help them cope in daily life, or if you're simply looking to enjoy some great, unconventional music, this winning debut will more than get you by. ~ Liana Jonas, All Music Guide
