Adam Freeland's new band's album, COPE™, is a complex combination of many different musical elements. Featuring the talents and collaborations with Tommy Lee, DEVO's Jerry Cassale, the Pixies' Joey Santiago, Brody Dalle of Spinnerette, Alex Metric (Marine Parade), New York based indie band, Soundpool, and Freeland's own singer/song writer, Kurt Baumann, you will understand where the title COPE™ is born from. COPE with the fact that this album defies any attempt to be pigeonholed into one type of musical genre. Fancy a roller coaster ride from the first rock-out track "Do You!" to a techno-liscious "Bring It", to the last percussive drone zone track, "Wish I was Here" It's a fun ride for sure! Don't hold your breath.

Where to begin on this musical roller coaster ride?.. Let me begin with the hard hitting Tommy Lee thrashing the drum jam on the first track, "Do you!". "Led Zeppelin meets electronic music"..? I dunno about that, but this track does inspire a proper head banging thrash that is sure to make your neck sore the next morning. Then the popular track "Under Control" that Gold made a video for... I love it, the song that is! Kurt Baumann's voice is solid and tight! Very reminiscent of LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy's voice, but only on this track. It's an all around catchy pop tune that is sure to make all ages alike shake some bum. I forsee this track shooting to the 'Top 100' charts. Billboard worthy!

I have to skip to my new all time fav track, "Silent Speaking". This is a biased opinion because I am a huge fan of dreamy melodic shoegaze lullabies. This song is a collaboration with a New York based indie band, Soundpool, which I had never heard about before, and now am a huge fan of. I ADORE this track. It is the perfect sunrise at Burning Man track after a long night of glitch-hop, techno & trance madness. At first it takes me to a dream world, then the drum solo and epic guitar riffs at the end wake me up to a 'Be Here Now' time to drink water and re-hydrate your life jam! Love it! But this is just my opinion. Take it or leave it.

My other fav track is "Best Fish Taco in Ensenada", which is named after a taco shack that is located in the same neighborhood as Freeland's studio. I f'ing love this track! As someone who has worked in nightclubs for years and hearing electronic music from around the world, this is one track that I want to hear blasted on an awesome sound system. It is the perfect nightclub electronic dance track that is sure to get everyone losing themselves in sweat on the dance floor, but that is also just my opinion, and again, take it or leave it.

Let me hop to Freeland's rendition of British 70's rocker/actor, David Essex's track, "Rock On". I am so glad that Freeland and/or Baumann decided to remake this track. Above all other rock-out tracks on COPE™, this one definitely reveals Freeland's desire to be not only a Grammy nominated top DJ/electronic music producer/(Marine Parade)record label owner, but a bonified rock star. This song sings this desire loud and clear. Freeland's electronic production expertise, Baumann's low and buttery voice, Twiggy Ramirez on bass guitar, collectively nail this rock track proper!

Still breathing? So, I've covered my fav tracks, from shoegaze to techno to rock and roll. The rest is up to you! Buy the album and form your own opinion. Be it a high paid music journalist or a striving writer reviewing this album, it is all just a matter of taste and opinion. Regardless of all the adjectives and painted descriptions, only becoming a Freeland music appreciator of late, this is my favorite Freeland album that I've heard so far. One thing that I can boldly state for all music genre lovers, this album will never bore you! Hear it for yourself!

check out: Freeland.fm

-© Raquel Marie