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