The cover of Luke Templeton's latest CD, ... through the music, shows Templeton's visage reflected on the back of his acoustic guitar.
It's more than appropriate, since that's the way he chooses to confront his life - through the medium of music.
Templeton is a folk singer in the best sense of that word. That may be foreign to those of you who have visions of pretension dancing through your heads.
But this Albuquerque-based singer-songwriter is not pretentious by any stretch. Rather, Templeton's humility shines brightly, as does his talent.
On this nine-song CD, Templeton goes with a gentle, finger-picking style that is accompanied by honest, introspective lyrics that channel the uncertainties of a recent period of his life.
Don't get the idea that all these songs are full of self-indulgent ramblings on life. Even at his most morose, Templeton has a glint of hope that at times shines like a distant star and other times is as big as the moon rising over the Manzanos.
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The songs on ... through the music follow a path. They tell the tales and travails of Templeton's life from May 1999 to May 2001, a period of uncertainty that ends with discovery and a sort of resolution.
Opening with "first sight," Templeton starts off tenderly, his James Taylor-esque voice hovering over a simple finger-picking pattern.
The song, like the one following it, "girl across the way," is part lament and part commemoration of the moment.
Like many of his songs, even the more up-tempo fare, these songs express a yearning.
In the hands of a lesser songwriter, these songs may seem maudlin or morose.
But Templeton manages to keep his songs feeling real and above all fresh, deftly avoiding bombast and banality.
When he does go more up-tempo - which is actually just a little more strident; no jumps to hyperspace here - the hope Templeton expresses is buoyant and tangible.
Songs like "ink on the page," "live on dreams" and "springtime song" all sound like a brisk walk in clear country air.
Like his reedy tenor voice, Templeton's style is familiar, yet absent of any clichÇ.
There's even a hint of bluegrass in his finger-picking, particularly in "meant to fly," but Templeton uses the style for flavoring more than anything.
Overall, ... through the music shows Templeton's strengths as a storyteller, as well as his spare musicianship.
Templeton's understated approach - the recording is just him and his guitar - serve him well, allowing him to get his message across without any entanglements.
Templeton manages to examine himself and his life through his music without becoming a parody and, more importantly, without being self-indulgent.
Though his songs are clearly autobiographical, Templeton doesn't try to say too much with the words he uses and doesn't beat us over the head, either.
At nine songs, ... through the music does something very few CDs do these days.
It leaves you wanting more.
For information on future performances or Templeton himself, you can contact him at luketempleton1@hotmail.com.
