When we met Citizen Cope, a.k.a. Clarence Greenwood, back in our New York City days, we thought he was handsome, mysterious and reserved. In other words, a little unnerving. We soon found out he's a talented songwriter who blends relaxed reggae grooves with rock rhythms and soulful melodies. He may have a tough shell, but he's really a troubadour at heart.

Cope and his band played to a packed house on Tuesday night at Slim's in support of his latest album The Clarence Greenwood Recordings. Standing centerstage with his acoustic guitar, Cope was flanked by both a keyboard player and an organist and backed by a rhythm section that held it all down with taste and style. (Five string basses usually annoy us -- especially when they belong to some jazz nerd fronting like he knows what to do with the extra string -- but Cope's bassist knew how to work it.) By all the dancing, clapping and inhaling going on, it was clear that the audience was enjoying themselves. The highlight of the show came during the hypnotic "Hurricane Waters," when the ever-intense Cope actually cracked a smile at everyone in the crowd singing along.

The Clarence Greenwood Recordings is the kind of album you can throw on at a party and win everybody over. Intrigued? Email us your name and mailing address and we'll pick one winner to receive a copy of Citizen Cope's latest CD. (Deadline is Wednesday 5/25 at noon.)