Willie Nelson Finds Comfort With ‘Bluegrass’
Willie Nelson’s Bluegrass marks a time to relax, enjoy what we have, and settle in with something nice and easy, and it’s none the worse for knowing what it is.
Justin Cober-Lake
Justin Cober-Lake lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife, kids, and dog. After getting his BA in English from Gettysburg College in 1999, he began writing steadily, except for a brief interlude to pick up a Master's in English with a concentration in American Studies from the University of Virginia. Besides his pieces at PopMatters, Justin publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and lyrics in a variety of places, including Dusted, Spectrum Culture, The Daily Progress, and The Englewood Review of Books.
Hiss Golden Messenger Find Reasons to ‘Jump for Joy’
Hiss Golden Messenger’s Jump for Joy switches up the mood considerably, offering a bouncy set of tracks of youthful enthusiasm and maturing gratitude.
Rhiannon Giddens Tackles Multiple Styles for ‘You’re the One’
Rhiannon Giddens’ exploration of the extensive history of American music continues to be compelling and enlightening on You’re the One.
Erin Viancourt’s ‘Won’t Die This Way’ Is a Breakout Moment
Country’s Erin Viancourt knows how to be delicate and rock without overdoing any moment, with a deft touch and consideration of phrasing defining each song.
Salim Nourallah Goes Nuclear
PopMatters has checked in with songwriter Salim Nourallah over the years, and in a world where Covid ravaged so many plans, he gives us reams of insight.
Molly Tuttle Continues Her Ascent with ‘City of Gold’
Americana’s Molly Tuttle keeps the energy as high as always. Crooked Tree might have felt like a peak, but with City of Gold, Tuttle continues her ascent.
Kevin Morby’s ‘More Photographs (A Continuum)’ Expands the Conversation
More Photographs has its moments, and for anyone wanting to explore old photos, memory, and mortality with Kevin Morby, it broadens the thinking.
Out of My Tree: An Interview with the Black Watch’s John Andrew Fredrick
The Black Watch’s John Andrew Fredrick: “I never wanted to be famous. I never wanted to be rich. I’ve succeeded in never being either one of those. I’m a rousing success!”
A Certain Ratio Move the Past Into the Future with ‘1982’
A Certain Ratio have always been willing to fiddle with their sound. That they do so in 1982 doesn’t surprise and fits with their rejuvenation in the 2020s.
Booker T. & the M.G.’s Defined Themselves with ‘Green Onions’
Soul/funk group Booker T. & the M.G.’s might have stumbled onto their best song with “Green Onions”, but this album defined the entire Stax Records sound.
The Shootouts Continue Running with ‘Stampede’
The Shootouts use classic styles of country on Stampede: Western swing, the Bakersfield sound, and a little honky tonk, occasionally suffused with some rock.
Dougie Poole Spins the Wheel of Rules and Lands on Transcendence
Dougie Poole’s sardonic humor, mixed with his love of country music’s storytelling past, turned him into a cult icon. Out of the pandemic is born a playful, wistful new album.