Tempchin is best known as the writer of The Eagles' "Peaceful Easy Feeling" back in the seventies - a perfect example of their sun kissed free wheeling California lifestyle. Whether you think The Eagles improved on their early style as they headed to superstardom or became a bloated, drug ridden parody of all that was good about the LA canyon scene, for those of a certain age it can induce blissful memories of a far gone age. He also co wrote another early Eagles hit, "Already Gone" and, when the Eagles reformed to release their latest opus Long Road out of Eden, there were two Tempchin songs on it. I reckon with this track record our man is not exactly short of a royalty buck or two but here he is with a new solo album (his sixth) released on his own label.
With all new songs (bar a reworking of "Smuggler's Blues," a hit for Glenn Frey some years back) this turns out to be a fairly inoffensive collection of middle of the road soft rock that has sparkles of brilliance but ultimately is let down by a lack of consistency.
The opening song "Out in the Desert" is the nearest we get to that peaceful easy feeling with a relaxed strum, Dylan type harmonica, low twang guitar and pretty harmonies backing Tempchin's relaxed vocals, a masterclass in capturing a lost, slightly ominous, hippie LA lifestyle and, like a warm bath, something to wallow in. This is followed by "Something in the Image," a ballad that again is sumptuous in its delivery. The mood is changed by "Waiting", a rocker where guitars and drums thrash in a sub Springsteen style. Thereafter the album flits between styles with ever decreasing returns apart from one other triumph. "East of Eden " is a cracking song, up there with the like of Kristofferson and Guy Clark. A pity the rest of the album wasn't on a par with this.
Also available from CD Baby.