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Image via Unsplash.
Sounds like:
Local Natives,
Death Cab for Cutie,
Elliott Smith,
Whitley
Why do we like this?
The Trouble with Templeton's (TTWT) album Rookie is due out in Australia this coming Friday, and I'm here to tell you it's definitely a piece of work to get excited about. Originally the solo project of singer/songwriter Thomas Calder, it's developed into a five-piece band over the past two years after Calder released the mini-album Bleeders in 2011.
Rookie, and the band in general, are pretty hard to pin down to one particular genre -- tracks shift from upbeat to drawn-out, from folk to pop to rock all throughout the album. This might be a downfall for some bands, but given the high quality of each of the tracks, these guys pull it off without issue. Previous singles "Six Months in a Cast" and "Like a Kid" both received strong local airplay, and there are plenty of tracks on the album that are bound for the same treatment.
I'm not usually someone who responds to lyrics, but from time to time an act stands out in this regard, and TTWT is one I'd place in this category. Calder's voice is particularly stirring, but I am more impressed by its adaptability as the tracks change tone. He's also done a fantastic job assembling a band around him that seems comfortable with these changes -- changes that might cause a problem in most bands.
While the sunny "Glue" or the current, undulating single "You Are New" might be personal favorites, the entire album is a standout -- listen to the whole thing if you can (you can currently stream it in full here).
Aside from building an adoring local following, the Brisbane-based band has also started winning fans internationally after appearances at this year's SXSW and Canadian Music Week festivals. Rookie is a fantastic release, and the slow-burner is looking like an early pick for one of my favorites of the year.
Rookie, and the band in general, are pretty hard to pin down to one particular genre -- tracks shift from upbeat to drawn-out, from folk to pop to rock all throughout the album. This might be a downfall for some bands, but given the high quality of each of the tracks, these guys pull it off without issue. Previous singles "Six Months in a Cast" and "Like a Kid" both received strong local airplay, and there are plenty of tracks on the album that are bound for the same treatment.
I'm not usually someone who responds to lyrics, but from time to time an act stands out in this regard, and TTWT is one I'd place in this category. Calder's voice is particularly stirring, but I am more impressed by its adaptability as the tracks change tone. He's also done a fantastic job assembling a band around him that seems comfortable with these changes -- changes that might cause a problem in most bands.
While the sunny "Glue" or the current, undulating single "You Are New" might be personal favorites, the entire album is a standout -- listen to the whole thing if you can (you can currently stream it in full here).
Aside from building an adoring local following, the Brisbane-based band has also started winning fans internationally after appearances at this year's SXSW and Canadian Music Week festivals. Rookie is a fantastic release, and the slow-burner is looking like an early pick for one of my favorites of the year.
Streaming source:
http://soundcloud.com/thetroublewithtempleton/you-are-new
TOUR DATES
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Elliott Smith,
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The Trouble with Templeton
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