:::Notable North American Music:::

Crystal Swells - Goethe Head Soup

(Self released, 2011)

Brilliantly caustic garage rock with a tuneful, hook-laden heart.  Think Moonhearts, Pumice, The Hospitals.


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Luke Temple - Don't Act Like You Don't Care

(Western Vinyl, 2011)

Erin and I have always loved Luke Temple's solo work (more so even than Here We Go Magic I think), so it's nice to see he hasn't abandoned it all together.  Don't Act Like You Don't Care definitely dips into country and folk, like Temple via Dylan.  It may sound unassuming on first listen, but the album has a lot more depth and listenability than it first lets on.  And of course, there's Luke Temple's voice...

Ophelia by Luke Temple by western.vinyl
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Remote Islands - Days of Heaven

(Stunned, 2011)

This album is pure pop bliss.  Thanks to Crawford over at The Tome for directing me to Days of Heaven.  Really terrific stuff.

Here We Go Magic- Here We Go Magic

Here We Go Magic
Here We Go Magic
(02.2008, Western Vinyl)
Verdict: Paul Simon, Vampire Weekend minus the prep stars, real magic

I have been meaning to write a review for this for over three weeks now, but have been letting my laziness get in the way. However, do not let my procrastination fool you into thinking I am not way super in love with and excited about Here We Go Magic. I love the afro-beat influences that have been creeping into indie music over the last two or three years, and this album capitalizes on afro-beat better than anyone I have heard since Paul Simon. I know I have compared other albums to Simon's Rhythm of the Saints album (which is his best in my opinion) but Here We Go Magic is more like unto it than anything before, in a really good and non-copy-cat way. Luke Temple even sounds like Simon, which I never noticed until this album. Temple is one of my favorite vocalists to emerge over the last few years and his singer/songwriter loneliness and soul is not put to waste as one might have thought it would be by adding multi-layered instrumentals and loops into his new project. His vocals works wonderfully and eerily as always, quietly gracing the percussive beat driven rhythms of half the tracks on the album, while the other half are vocal free and drone based. Now, if you know me, you know that drone is a very touchy subject with me and that I am incredibly particular about the drone I find tolerable, so this next sentence should blow your socks off. I love every song on this album, drone and all. If that doesn't sell you, I don't know what will.

-Lil' Sass

Luke Temple - Snowbeast

Luke Temple
Snowbeast
(08.2007, Millpond Records)
8.0/10

Luke Temple's sophomore album Snowbeast is a measured change from his 2005 debut, marked by endless subtleties and approvingly distancing himself from Starbucks' CD racks. Continuing his streak for seering openers, Temple lets loose on his first track with the near-perfect "Saturday People" showing why he is such a unique voice in the current overflow of music's modern landscape. Temple quickly dips into his most comfortable space of slow motion minor chords on "Serious" before transitioning into a new quirkiness. The songs are obsessively layered with innumerable odds and ends adding up to minimalistic folk/pop gem. Temple's addition of all sorts of instrumental oddities to his repertoire on Snowbeast (including the introduction of some token electronics) pays off immensely. However, it is his restraint that takes center stage as he limits some of these instruments to a single staccato note, given the track. It is this attention to minute detail that makes Snowbeast a delicate grower that continues to charm on repeated listens. Snowbeast isn't one to wrangle in critical stargazing but is humble and dynamic enough to become an essential in any appreciator of music's collection.

-Mr. Thistle

Luke Temple - "Saturday People"

Luke Temple - Hold A Match For A Gasoline World

Retrospective

Luke Temple
Hold A Match For A Gasoline World
(2005, Mill Pond Records)
8.5/10

Luke Temple is a singer-songwriter with heartfelt personal lyrics..... that statement I just wrote is ususally something that would make me a little cautious of an album. In fact, I hardly ever even look into so called "singer-songwriters." Hold A Match For A Gasoline World is an album that Mr. Thistle showed to me a few years ago, and since discovery it has become a sure staple in my music collection. It's laid back Northwestern feel and simple melodies are incredibly charming. The lyrics are honest and interesting. It's somewhat of a autobiographical album for Temple. The album is simply Temple's vocals and his guitar, occaisional coupled by light percussion. Sounds boring right? It's not. Every song is a gem, as well as incredibly singable. Even everyone's mom can sing along to the second track on the album, "Make Right With You" since it was featured on Grey's Anatomy. Temple's new album, Snow Beast is scheduled to come out this summer, and if it's anything like Hold A Match For A Gasoline World, then I am looking forward to discovering a new beautiful album.

- Sassigrass

Luke Temple- Private Shipwreck