Heroin and Helicopters arrives seven long years after One Lovely Day, the 2012 album that gave Citizen Cope his highest-charting hit. It's a long gap, but Citizen Cope never followed a straight path, so such a relaxed gait suits him. This easy touch is heard on the album, too, which simmers at a low tempo as he flits between hip-hop loops, laid-back reggae rhythms, and soulful grooves. Everything on Heroin and Helicopters is exceedingly mellow -- its title, borrowed from a phrase uttered by his old collaborator Carlos Santana, doesn't capture the record's vibe at all -- and so casual, it's a wonder that it took Citizen Cope so long to finish the record, but its consistency is a testament to the singer/songwriter. This effort may be slow and mellow, but Citizen Cope never lets the music drift too far from his chosen sweet spot.
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