Rayland Baxter Explores New Ideas on ‘If I Were a Butterfly’
The sonic expansion in Rayland Baxter’s If I Were a Butterfly makes for exciting and curious listening, but it also leads to a record that feels scattered.
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.
Will Sheff Finds Everything in ‘Nothing Special’
Okkervil River’s Will Sheff sounds like someone shrugging off burdens, his music built on steady patience and willingness for difficult but freeing reflection.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Create Some Heat on ‘Cool It Down’
Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ ‘Cool It Down’ came largely out of the pandemic strain, but rather than lingering on life’s big pause, it ends it, always and fully in motion.
Lissie Finds Renewal on ‘Carving Canyons’
Lissie’s country-inflected Carving Canyons considers who she is, looking back to childhood but also realizing that she can help shape a positive future.
Jake Blount Transforms Old Tradition for ‘The New Faith’
Jake Blount reworks traditional spirituals for a future setting on The New Faith and wonders what black music will sound like after climate change.
Stephen Graham Jones on Exploring Morality and Ecology with ‘Earthdivers’
Stephen Graham Jones’ horror/sci-fi lays eggs in your head. With his latest project, the Earthdivers (Kill Columbus), his ideas for an alternative America crawl out.
Elizabeth King Finds Her Time with ‘I Got a Love’
With I Got a Love, gospel soul artist Elizabeth King gets to where she always could have been, a recording artist with consistency and originality.
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Explore the World Through ‘Endless Rooms’
By weaving in and out of broader and more intimate concerns, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever’s Endless Rooms possesses a wide scope that ties together.
Neko Case Creates a Retrospective with ‘Wild Creatures’
Neko Case’s career retrospective Wild Creatures includes a new song, “Oh, Shadowless”, which adroitly blends the pretty with the abrasive.
Jon Porras Drifts Downstream for ‘Arroyo’
Fans might be accustomed to Jon Porras working in the dark, but on Arroyo, he offers genuine light and rest throughout the trip.
Field Works Make Every Wiggle Count on ‘Stations’
Field Works always offers something new, and his latest, Stations, uses the sounds of the Earth itself. Seismic noises partner with voices and vibrant music.
Band of Horses Play It Safe on ‘Things Are Great’
Fans will likely be happy with Things Are Great, but this far into Band of Horses’ career, they should be taking on new musical challenges or exploration.