Ken Tamplin & Friends "Wake the Nations" Now & Then 2003

Let's say it at the start: the guest list on this CD is phenomenal -- many of them big names. 
There are 18 tracks, plus two music videos. On value alone, this CD is unquestionably a bargain. 
Since technically artists only get paid for ten songs on an album, this is a labour of love. In 
his interview with the Rock Hole, Ken explained that his income is from movies and television 
these days and he does records for the love of it. 

Long time fans should imagine an updated version of the best bits of "Shout Back" and the self- 
titled Tamplin album. Tamplin avoids being stuck in the '80s, yet stays true to his sound. In the
interview he told me that some of the overblown big anthems of the past sounded trite and dated 
now, and used AC/DC as a reference point of good hard rock that has remained timeless. "Wake The 
Nations" accordingly sees the sound updated a little; a number of songs begin with drum loops, 
but Ken quickly quips that he has "chosen not to lead an alternative lifestyle." Another 
reference he used was "if Van Halen had kept going" -- if they had carried on moving forward and 
creating kicking rock... Well, there's a great thought. Since Van Halen have neglected their fans
for years now, this new Tamplin record might well be the next best thing. Come to think of it, if
Van Halen have to get a new singer, they could do a lot worse than Tamplin (who happens to be 
Sammy Hagar's cousin).

A huge influence on Ken's work has been R&B; his last two solo albums abandoned rock altogether 
for a motown vibe. That's here too -- funky grooves abound and some of the choruses even sound 
almost like hard rock versions of today's R&B scene (Don't let this scare you too much. I'm sure 
Otis Redding is turning in his grave at all that urban junk and I have strong suspicions that 
Craig David may be the antichrist, but this album still rocks). Fittingly, the bassist on 
"Wake the Nations" has a day job playing for Jennifer Lopez.

It is impossible to overstress that if wild guitar solos are your thing then this is the album 
that should be number one on your shopping list. Less well-known guys like Mattias Eklundh, and 
Howie Simon turn in blinding feats of wizardry and Ken himself is hardly a slouch. You'd be hard 
pushed even to find a compilation album that has a better list of great guitarists. That said, 
having a bunch of great players means nothing without good songs, but Ken has done himself proud 
in this area as well. And with 18 tracks, even if you don't like some songs, you can skip a few 
and still have more tracks than most albums have to start with.

Fans of powerful hard rock will find an original album which is up-to-date without chasing 
current trends in any way.

[8]

Guests include:
Reb Beach (Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, Dokken, Winger)
Richie Kotzen (Mr. Big, Poison)
Marty Friedman (Megadeth, Cacophony)
Kee Marcello (Europe)
Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie's singer, the voice of the movie Rock Star)
Stevie Salas (session player with Prince and others, the hands of Rufus in Bill & Ted's Excellent 
Adventure... you know, when Rufus goes "I play a little...")