Album Review: What A Great Place To Be by Sumner McKane
Sumner McKane’s 2008 album What A Great Place To Be is a quiet marvel, blending folk, acoustic, and ambient sounds into something that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly original. Released under the quirky label Don’t Hit Your Sister Recording Co., this record is more than just music—it’s like flipping through an old photo album where every track tells its own fragmented story. With genres spanning folk, rock, electronic, and even hints of country, McKane crafts a sonic patchwork that feels deeply personal yet universally relatable.
One standout track for me has to be “After the Fireworks We Walked to the Rope Swing.” There’s something about the way it builds—simple guitar picking at first, then layers of subtle instrumentation creep in—that makes it stick in your head long after it ends. It’s not flashy or overproduced; instead, it’s the kind of song that sneaks up on you. You find yourself humming it while washing dishes or staring out a window. The title alone paints such a vivid picture—a mix of summer nights, youthful adventure, and bittersweet memories. It’s almost cinematic without trying too hard.
Another track worth mentioning is “The Winter I Got Louder Than Bombs And Standing On A Beach.” This one hits different. Maybe it’s the contrast between the heavy, almost militaristic imagery in the title and the soft, drifting melodies underneath. McKane seems to have a knack for creating tension without ever fully resolving it, leaving listeners hanging in this liminal space between comfort and unease. Honestly, I can’t decide if it’s soothing or kinda haunting—but maybe that’s the point.
It’s also worth noting how McKane plays with repetition across the album. Tracks like “Riding In Cars In The Woods” and “We Don’t Talk About the Night Marsha Took the Boat to Digby” appear multiple times, but each version feels slightly altered, as though he’s inviting us to notice new details with every listen. It’s clever stuff, even if it might drive some people nuts hearing the same song twice (or three times).
Looking back on What A Great Place To Be, what strikes me most isn’t any single moment—it’s the mood. McKane captures this strange blend of Americana and introspection, like he’s documenting small-town life through a dreamlike filter. But here’s the thing: despite all the nostalgia and layered textures, there’s nothing overly sentimental about it. If anything, it feels honest—even when it leaves you scratching your head.
And hey, isn’t that what great albums do? They don’t give you all the answers. Instead, they linger, sticking around like an unfinished conversation. Or maybe like that one friend who always shows up unannounced but somehow knows exactly what you need.
Artist:Sumner McKane Album: What A Great Place To Be
The Winter I Got Louder Than Bombs And Standing On A Beach
2:50
We Don't Talk About The Night Marsha Took The Boat To Digby
7:06
Riding In Cars In The Woods
6:32
After the Fireworks We Walkedto the Rope Swing
07:41
When We Get To California
6:54
We Don't Talk About the NightMarsha Took the Boat to Digby
07:05
The 20th Maine: July 2nd, 1863
05:57
The Winter I Got Louder Than Bombs and Standing on a Beach
02:49
First Winter at Plymouth Colony
07:54
1975 Chevy Nova (For Aaron Sewall)
7:11
First Winter At Plymouth Colony
7:54
When We Get to California
6:53
After The Fireworks We Walked To The Ropeswing
7:41
Riding In Cars In the Woods
6:32
The Winter I Got Louder Than Bombs and Standing On a Beach
2:49
We Don't Talk About the Night Marsha Took the Boat to Digby
7:5
The 20th Maine: July 2nd 1863
5:57
After the Fireworks We Walked to the Rope Swing
7:41
Doris
3:31
1975 Chevy Nova
7:10
Riding in Cars in the Woods
06:32
Images
Labels
Don't Hit Your Sister Recording Co.
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Formats
CD
Album
Notes
All sounds written, played & recorded by Sumner McKane.
Interesting fact about Album
Did you know that Sumner McKane's album *What A Great Place To Be* blends a mix of genres like folk, rock, and electronic music? Released in 2008, it’s full of storytelling tracks with intriguing titles. One standout fact is that the album includes multiple versions of some songs, like "After the Fireworks We Walked to the Rope Swing" and "1975 Chevy Nova," each with subtle differences. It’s like getting alternate takes on the same story, giving listeners a deeper connection to the music. Pretty cool, right?
