- Pop has always bubbled up between the cracks of Eric Copeland's musical concoctions, but his love of catchy melodies is clearer than ever on Black Bubblegum. He still approaches everything from left-field, tripping out with giddy playfulness. But the ten tracks here are more song-like than anything he's done before, mixing pop hooks—and even a few choruses and bridges—with the repetition of dub. The result is music you can dance to without twisting yourself into knots.
The decision to go pop makes Black Bubblegum Copeland's most focused album. Where his past records were quick to veer off on far-flung tangents—often with thrilling results—here he keeps his eyes on the main musical idea in each tune. He's still in love with loops, and every track has a rhythm that holds firm throughout. But now repetition is less an end in itself than a tool for making melodies infectious.
In fact, the best songs are so infectious that Copeland himself sounds intoxicated by them. The call-and-response vocals of "Rip It" could be some alternate-universe party anthem chanted by spring-breakers. Spry beats dot the slithery "Fuck It Up" and the stoner hip-hop of "On." "Don't Beat Your Baby" uses chunky guitar chords and searing solos to set its hooks on fire.
Black Bubblegum might seem like a fleeting pleasure destined to slip quickly from memory, but there's more to it than instant gratification. As with all of Copeland's records, surprising angles and intriguing touches are strewn throughout. But this is also an incredibly fun record, which is enough reason to play it over and over.
Tracklist01. Kids In A Coma
02. Rip It
03. Fuck It Up
04. Honorable Mention
05. Blue Honey
06. On
07. Cannibal World
08. Don't Beat Your Baby
09. Radio Weapons
10. Get My Own