Roxi Copland - Truth Be Told (2014)

Tracklist

01. Heavy Load
02. One More Time
03. Wonderwall
04. Set 'em Up
05. Don't Give Up On Me
06. I Like the Things You Do
07. Step On the Gas
08. The Kids Aren't Alright

Truth Be Told is Copland’s first album backed by a full band. She managed to round up some incredible talent to play with her, as the band is really quite good and really diverse in sound. Copland is known mainly for her jazz prowess, but this album is much more than that. Its arrangements go into different directions, like the Latin inspired “I Like the Things You Do” or the blues-rock version of “Step on the Gas” (one of a handful of tracks that were featured on Pretty Lies, but re-imagined for the full band).

Copland’s voice shines throughout and the band hits all the notes and then some, but if there are any weaknesses on the album it may be when she drifts away from her own work. She covers The Offspring’s “The Kids Aren’t Alright” (another one re-done from Pretty Lies) and Oasis’ “Wonderwall” and while both are certainly done in Roxi’s fashion and aren’t expected to be karaoke regurgitation’s, it was hard for me to really get into them because of how much I honestly revere the originals.

But really those are minor nitpicks. I like that she went this route with the album. It is a nice smooth album to listen to and get lost in. Plus, there aren’t a lot of artists working the Midwest who are both jazzy, but with pop sensibilities. She’s a cabaret style singer, who is backed by a band that knows their jazz, but isn’t afraid to open up a little bit stylistically.

Do I like the full band better than I like Copland on her own? It’s tough to say. I think if you’re looking to appreciate a voice, Pretty Lies is the way to go. If you want to appreciate the music in total Truth Be Told would be the way to go. I just like that the option is there and that it allowed Copland to experiment a bit more than what her and her piano allowed her to do.

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