Beneath Medicine Tree and In Motion are great in their own ways. But, I definitely prefer the style of Eat, Sleep, Repeat and forward more. So those get the edge for me in my personal ranking and such.
Yeah BMT is still a great album but every album they did after are easily better imo. I also don't really like "When Paula Sparks".
I've just never really liked it. The melodies are kind of grating to me. It's my second least favourite song of theirs after "Walking Downtown".
I don't like the chorus to Walking Downtown much (don't totally hate it either though), but I think the rest of the song is fine. Definitely the weakest song in their discography though (discounting some stuff on Dressed Up & In Line).
I wouldn't say I hate it, when I was younger around the time BMT came out, Walking Downtown was my favorite. But now that i'm older I'd definitely say its my least favorite song from them, and the only song I don't like.
When they were releasing some songs early leading up to Ixora, I got in a fight with my brother because he told me that the songs were boring (Ordinary, Erase, Disjointed) and that he wanted more "In Motion" sounding Copeland. I was furious that anyone could call these songs boring, especially Erase. I couldn't stop myself from arguing with him and insulting his bad taste.
Erase, I Can Make You Feel Young Again, In Her Arms You Will Never Starve all some of the best songs I have ever heard. I think I'd have to agree that this band got better with every album they released. Which is such a feat.