What a Great Place to Be begins by shrugging off the slow, timid compositions of its predecessors and offers some bright, upbeat numbers with "After the Fireworks We Walked to the Rope Swing" and "When We Get to California." For the most part, the album stays true to this theme, sliding out of the folky/country tint of Sumner McKane's previous work and developing a more unique sound in the process. His approach hasn't changed much -- the album is still largely guitar based with loads of effects -- but  WAGPTB strives for fuller, more mature sounds and is wonderful when it accomplishes that goal. The last half of the album slows things down and gets into a gazey mood, allowing McKane's command of his instrument to shine through as he wraps the listener into a web of his cozy music.