The eventseekr team had some awesome interns that regularly contributed to the blog this summer, but we also had awesome interns all throughout the office working in the other departments. We asked those who didn’t get a chance to contribute to write reviews of recent albums that struck their fancy. First was indie-rock group A Lull‘s Confetti, written up by Janelle Gleason, then Sharon Kim’s review of Cloud Control‘s Bliss Release, and most recently Lauren Espina’s review of Trap Gold‘s The Chooser EP. The fourth and final of these album reviews is Christina Galarnaeu’s review of Luke Temple‘s Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care.
Luke Temple originally made a splash in the indie-folk scene in 2004 when he was signed to Mill Pond Records, based in Seattle. His first full length album off Mill Pond, Hold a Match to a Gasoline World, was in line with the Northwestern indie scene, which was filled with sensitive and emotional youngsters with tattoos and piercings. In 2009 Temple decided to change his sound and released a full length album with his band, Here We Go Magic. His collaborative work has a much edgier and poppier sound than Temple’s soulful, soft solo work. Here We Go Magic’s Pigeons showcased a new side of Temple’s creative ability while he explored and expanded his musical portfolio. However, Temple kept to his folksy roots for his newly released solo album, Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care.
Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care is a folksy, country album that showcases Temple’s breathy tenor voice. His lyrics relate to universal themes of longing, loneliness and proving oneself to the world. The first half of the album is more upbeat with stronger rhythms and more memorable hooks. The second half consists of soft melancholy ballads. Several of the songs have a lo-fi quality that give it a nostalgic feel as if it could be coming from your grandfather’s record player. This is especially true of “You Belong in Heaven.”
Two of the most memorable tracks are “Ophelia” and the “Ballad for Dick George”. Both songs epitomize the two styles of the album. “Ophelia” is his boldest track, with foot-tapping energy and twangy country crooning. “Ballad for Dick George” is his most somber track, with sweetly sung folk lyrics complimented by a simple acoustic strum. Some songs drift and meld into one hymn that escapes the memory after listening, and several songs serve as poetic background music, which is perfect for a golden sunset drive or a lazy afternoon in the countryside. While the composition of the songs may be lovely, the music lacks the profundity that leaves a lasting impression. “More Than Muscle” repeats again and again, “I’ve got so much more to show you,” and while Temple does keep his promise and shifts the mood of the album a couple songs later, Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care could stand to be just a bit more dynamic.
RELATED LINKS
Here We Go Magic Official Tumblr
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