Ken Tamplin
We the People
Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh
Tamplin may be aiming his latest release at "we the people," but maybe we really should be referred to as "we the surprised"; the opener's chorus gives the listener a straight out salvation message, but those familiar with Tamplin may be pleading for salvation from the overt string section, horns and acoustic (?) guitars. What next? A praise and worship album? We shouldn't judge a work by what we expect, but by what the artist has actually created. Tamplin, the tight-trousered rocker from the 80s, has attempted to create an intelligent pop with We The People; whether that's your cup of tea or not, the man must be called a success: The lyrics are smart, the arrangements are inventive, and the singing is low key enough to fit the songs. Maybe detractors will just blame it all on loose fitting trousers. However, Tamplin has shown us yet another side of his musical personality, and we the people should be glad that he's letting us get to know him just a little bit better.