Stump Hole Water- Stump Hole Water
I like to think that I’d still like this album even if I didn’t know the people that made it. That’s the sign of true greatness, right? Something that is good disregarding any outside factors, judged on its own merits…
Yeah I don’t think that’s possible. There are always going to be external factors when it comes to art. Maybe you were in a bad mood when you first encountered it, maybe you didn’t go in with the right mindset. Liking something seems to be more of a happy accident that results from several factors coming together than an abstract judgment on merit. Maybe we’d just like to think our tastes are based on something more than coincidence.
I love this album, and the fact that that might be a coincidence is fine by me. I’ve liked it for many years and I’ll bet good money that I like it for many more. And I bet good money you’ll like it as well. There’s just so much here to love.
Starting with the instruments. The two main musicians here, Clark and Luke Lovelady, come from a very talented family. Their father is a performer of mythic status, and their mother has something of a legend surrounding her as a high school English teacher. They were never not going to be talented is my point, not with those genes. But they’ve gone past what could be expected of them here. Every solo is on point. I know for a fact that Luke is a fan of the band Phish, and the solos have that jam band feel to them. It’s great.
And the lyrics! Oh the Lyrics! “Ol’ Jessie lay down his head that night/ he raised his stain free hands upright…” From the first line you get a line that sounds like a cover of great American folk song. I was afraid these were covers until I checked the CD case. Clark and Luke have done something special here by making songs that sound like they’ve been around for generations.
So those are some of the reasons I love this album, another one is that I like the guys that made it. I like their family. I admire their talent. I’ve been listening to this album for years. I’ve memorized all the songs. Those are some other reasons why I love this album. And I’m not sure I can separate one from any of the others. I can only pick out the ones that might be persuasive to you.
5/5 There is no reason why everyone on the Eastern Shore shouldn’t listen to this album. And everyone off the shore for that matter. It’s on Spotify, go check it out!