Dumb it down

Description

'Dumb it Down', the fifteenth solo album by Eric Copeland of the band Black Dice, is released on the label Post Present Medium, which also put out Eric's very first solo record in 2007. Agile, punchy, and energetic all at once, these ten songs are imbued with a charm and direct character unprecedented despite a career spanning over twenty years. The evocative, carnivalesque loops that have defined his solo work over the past decade are here joined by the organic warmth of a nylon-string guitar and an airy vocal delivery that doesn't try to hide the laughter behind the words. It's captivating, and Eric Copeland's ability to attract and hold attention has never been stronger than on this record — he is chatty and sly, direct but never truly laid bare. Rooted in everyday life, these songs oscillate between enthusiasm and resignation, a contradiction of spirit that is easy to identify with. While this tension could derail a lesser record, Eric uses it to his advantage, crafting songs that are both casual and relentless. It's the balance found in "Louie Louie" or "Sex Bomb". If, in a parallel world, Flipper is the most venerated band of the 20th century, then Eric Copeland's 'Dumb It Down' is the music you hear playing in subway stations.