Citizen Cope has been taking the musical world by storm. His ability to revive genuine acoustic sounds has received nothing but praise from fans, and even musical greats such as Bono and Bruce Springsteen. Real name Clarence Greenwood, he has once again displayed his innate capacity to shake up commonplace modern music with his most recent release, The Rainwater LP.

For this album, he chose to release it on his own record label, Rain Water Recordings, Inc. According to Citizen Cope, he could not have done it any other way, being quoted as saying,

A lot of labels wanted to put [the album] out, but I kept hearing things like ‘Retail’s gonna need you to do this’ or ‘The artwork has to be like this.’ I don’t want to be led into those confines anymore. I want to be able to do it my own way. Being able to operate efficiently, not having to move buildings to do anything, just seems so basic for any artistic endeavor.

This risk provided the artist with the valued ability to be free with his work, and resulted in an impressive body of work.

Cope was born in Memphis and eventually moved to Washington, D.C. He now resides in Brooklyn, which has obviously had an effect on his myriad of influences.

The Rainwater LP demonstrates an infusion of Blues, Folk, and Reggae, which could seem a little puzzling but actually works well and provides a fresh outlook on music. To stand out even more, there are even mild elements of Hip-Hop in the album, delivering a complete and exclusive sound that proves difficult to resist. Highlights include “Healing Hands” which is a simply pretty song that makes you want to go and lie on a beach and never leave. Other favorites are “Lifeline” and “Keep Askin’,” which are raw yet pure, leaving one feeling like they’re being let in on Cope’s secrets.

This album would not be as commendable without it’s strongest component; Cope’s soulful and richly weathered voice. He manages to explore the world around him and bring common themes of everyday life to his songs. The tracks on this album manage to connect with listeners through gritty lyrics of story-telling. It is all too easy to put yourself into the music and personally understand Cope’s own heart and experiences.

The Rainwater LP shows the depths of Citizen Cope’s lyrical and technical talents. It manages to convey deep thoughts and emotion through a range of genres in a way that provokes genuine appreciation for classic acoustic guitars and everything in between.