Stephen Luke - Where the River Bends (2013)

From dirt road Texas cowboy love songs to crunky southern swamp rock, singer/songwriter Stephen Luke’s second release “Where The River Bends” is a musically focused and emotionally reflective journey straight into the heart of one man’s poetic vision. The album is Luke’s second release since his well-received “No Man’s Land” in 2008, produced by Luke’s long-time mentor, blues Master guitarist Kelly Richey. Starkly honest, charming and powerfully written, Luke’s effort on “Where The River Bends” is especially enjoyable. Well-crafted songs, top-notch musicians, and production once again by Kelly Richey as well as Rick Brantley make for some serious ear candy. Foot stomping grooves, tear-stained pillows, stories from the heart and feel-good vibes shimmy, swing, and kick the dusty road with a pair of worn out cowboy boots throughout the album. Reminiscent of artists like John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Stephen Stills and in his own words, “maybe Jim Morrison if he had moved to Nashville”, Luke’s husky voice sings through a densely synchronized brew of country, southern-swamp rock, americana, alt folk and good old rock and roll about second chances, justice, hope, forgiveness, and love. The greatest common denominator and unifying theme in Luke’s work, however, is the journey of finding the road to personal strength during the many hardships of life, and gathering the courage to move on from painful experiences.

Stephen Luke’s “Where The River Bends” offers up an enticing set of songs that willingly render our hearts toward a deeper knowing of the graceful, hard-won moments in our lives. Simply put, Stephen Luke’s music satisfies; wrapped up in can’t-get-it-out-of-your-head melodies and soul penetrating lyrics that live on long after your CD player is turned off for the night, heartache and hope collide to make lovesome poetry, consecrated in its beauty and breadth of emotion.