Personnel: Mindy Smith (vocals, recorder, background vocals); Ian Fitchuk (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, organ, keyboards, drums, percussion, programming); Daniel Tashian (vocals, electric guitar, keyboards); Kate York, Madi Diaz, Peter Groenwald, Mikky Ekko, Leigh Nash, Susan Ashton, Vince Gill (vocals); Jeremy Lister (whistling, background vocals); Justin Loucks (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, harmonica, piano, organ, keyboards, drums, percussion, programming); Gary Burnette, Lex Price (acoustic guitar); Court Clement (electric 12-string guitar); Matt Slocum (cello); David Davidson (strings); Amy Grant, Thad Cockrell (background vocals).
Recording information: The Fertile Turtle, Nashville, TN.
Photographer: Traci Goudie.
After the tasteful Southern-accented and acoustic-leaning sound of Mindy Smith's first two albums, STUPID LOVE finds her dipping her toes into something closer to contemporary pop. Smith is a long, long way from transforming herself into Taylor Swift, but the snappy rhythms and percolating basslines on "Highs and Lows" and "Love Chases After Me" are a good bit more radio-friendly than Smith's earlier work, and "What Love Can Do" recalls the muscular grace of classic era Fleetwood Mac, suggesting that she's eager to play to a broader audience than she has in the past.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (p.80) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[H]er bright soprano is balanced by serious lyrical darkness. 'Bad Guy' is a pretty breakup ballad with hidden barbs."
Billboard (p.28) - "Smith commands the spotlight on the uplifting second half of the album, with the beautiful track 'True Love of Mine' and the party-starter 'Take a Holiday.'"
