Brooklyn's New Temple

Posted Monday, July 16, 2007 @ 01:28 by Quinn Strassel

Every once in a while, I hear a song that changes things.

I remember the first time I heard Beck's Loser on the radio. I was 14 and it changed my idea of what a song could be. Slide guitar and hip-hop? Cheese Whiz and termites chocking on splinters? Nobody does that. Of course, that song made way for several folk-meets-hip hop acts, and Loser became a karaoke retread.

But I remember when it changed things.

I've had similar experiences over the years. Elliott Smith's St. Ides Heaven. Outkast's Hey Ya. Belle and Sebastian's The State I Am In. Each song helped redefine my musical landscape.

The same thing happened the other night when I stumbled onto Luke Temple's Saturday People .

Elements of Brian Wilson and Sgt. Pepper's era Beatles. Harmonies reminiscent of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (of all things?). Banjos, flutes, synthesizers. 3/4 time. Who does this? Luke Temple does.

Maybe I'm giving this guy more credit than he deserves. But if Saturday People is any inidcation, Luke Temple may be the most important singer/songwriter to come along since Sufjan Stevens. This song is important. It changes things.

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