Cy Dune Turns His Beats Around for ‘Against Face’
Seth Olinsky has deliberately upended expectations for years, and his latest version of Cy Dune uses new directions (and waves) to continue old fun.
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.
Judy Collins Continues to Hold Us ‘Spellbound’
Six decades into a renowned folk music career, Judy Collins shows that magic always surprises on her latest album Spellbound.
Loney Hutchins Digs Up ‘Buried Loot’
“Pinball King” was the biggest hit in country music 35 years ago. Or at least it could have been. Loney Hutchins cut a remarkable number of tracks that could have made him a star.
Guitarist Matthew Stevens Ties Threads Together for the Singular ‘Pittsburgh’
Dynamic jazz guitarist Matthew Stevens’ new album comes after a bad accident, but its history proves it to be more than just a lucky break.
Willie Nelson Reunites the Relatives for ‘The Willie Nelson Family’
Fans will likely love the warmth and charm of The Willie Nelson Family, but the album isn’t quite essential amid such a deep catalog.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Reunite to ‘Raise the Roof’
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ Raise the Roof turns the spotlight on craft. It might not quite match its predecessor, but it maintains a high level of artistry.
Country’s Jon Randall Reminds Us Who He Is with New Self-Titled LP
Jon Randall might be a car record, but, if so, it’s not one for the sunshine and windows down, but one for long, dusty drives under the stars.
Natalie Hemby Puts Her Fans on ‘Pins and Needles’
Natalie Hemby’s Pins and Needles arrives like a mid-career release from an artist fully confident of her direction. It has the force of time behind it.
Kevin Morby Opens the Door on ‘A Night at the Little Los Angeles’
Sundowner and A Night at the Little Los Angeles work together to satisfy multiple moods and develop a complete picture of Kevin Morby’s work.
Strand of Oaks Presses on with ‘In Heaven’
Strand of Oaks’ In Heaven moves through trauma and sees a world where we can imagine something better, and we can even believe we can get there.
The Way Down Wanderers Look for Peace on ‘More Like Tomorrow’
Roots band the Way Down Wanderers find a sort of rest in their self-development and in the connections they make on More Like Tomorrow.
Connie Smith Returns with Power on ‘The Cry of the Heart’
Connie Smith and her colleagues might be historians, but they bring old Nashville impressively into the present with The Cry of the Heart.