Singer-songwriter Mindy Smith came on the scene in 2004 with a great version of "Jolene" on the "Just Because I'm a Woman" Dolly Parton tribute. But on her solo albums on the Vanguard label, Mindy hasn't confined herself to country music. She combines the best of country--a deep appreciation of the layers of meaning to be found in our personal pasts--with a modern sensibility that encompasses new folk music and Americana songwriting. Mindy's intimate yet edgy songs really come into their own in the close-up spaces of The Ark. Her new album, "Stupid Love," was released less than two weeks ago. Written over a two-year period, its songs delve into the various stages of relationships: the highs, the lows, the emotional investments made, how they can change us and help us move forward.