Justin Cober-Lake
@justinc-l.bsky.social
I write, mostly on music and books. I look for birds. I sometimes do other things.
I had a fun time revisiting the self-titled album from Spaceheads, an overlooked blast of a record: spectrumculture.com/2025/12/07/r...
Rediscover: Spaceheads: Spaceheads - Spectrum Culture
A weird, fidgety album of experiments from a trumpeter and a percussionist still sounds vital and surprising.
spectrumculture.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I had a fun time revisiting the self-titled album from Spaceheads, an overlooked blast of a record: spectrumculture.com/2025/12/07/r...
I'm always interested to hear what Colter Wall's up to. My review of his latest: spectrumculture.com/2025/11/25/c...
Colter Wall: Memories and Empties - Spectrum Culture
On Memories and Empties, Colter Wall is ready for stardom, but the stardom of the '60s or '70s — these are songs for old honky-tonks and for life on the road.
spectrumculture.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I'm always interested to hear what Colter Wall's up to. My review of his latest: spectrumculture.com/2025/11/25/c...
I wasn't sure the new Dylan Bootleg series would be interesting; his origin story's well-covered. I was wrong. The set's fascinating, entertaining, and informative. My review: www.popmatters.com/bob-dylan-th...
Bob Dylan Scholarship Comes in 'Through the Open Window' » PopMatters
Through the Open Window does something ambitious in exploring Bob Dylan's early development and capturing the essence of a scene.
www.popmatters.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I wasn't sure the new Dylan Bootleg series would be interesting; his origin story's well-covered. I was wrong. The set's fascinating, entertaining, and informative. My review: www.popmatters.com/bob-dylan-th...
"Even in retrospect, 1985 feels almost miraculous for the punk band Hüsker Dü, and new box set 1985: The Miracle Year captures that moment through a hefty set of live recordings from a wild season." spectrumculture.com/2025/11/18/h...
Hüsker Dü: 1985: The Miracle Year - Spectrum Culture
Even in retrospect, 1985 feels almost miraculous for the punk band Hüsker Dü, and new box set 1985: The Miracle Year captures that moment through a hefty set of live recordings from a wild season.
spectrumculture.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:04 PM
"Even in retrospect, 1985 feels almost miraculous for the punk band Hüsker Dü, and new box set 1985: The Miracle Year captures that moment through a hefty set of live recordings from a wild season." spectrumculture.com/2025/11/18/h...
As usual, I wrote about The Who. Who Are You is an uneven album from a chaotic time, and the new box set breaks it all down quite well (and, of course, it's fun to listen to). My review: spectrumculture.com/2025/11/13/t...
The Who: Who Are You (Super Deluxe Edition) - Spectrum Culture
The Who Are You (Super Deluxe Edition) adds wonderful insight (and more than a few great tracks) to the history of one of the decade's greatest bands.
spectrumculture.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
As usual, I wrote about The Who. Who Are You is an uneven album from a chaotic time, and the new box set breaks it all down quite well (and, of course, it's fun to listen to). My review: spectrumculture.com/2025/11/13/t...
"Brandi Carlile has returned to herself, but that doesn’t mean isolation; it means taking her own awareness into community, knowing what to treasure and making sure to speak it." My review of Carlile's latest: www.popmatters.com/brandi-carli... @popmatters.com
Establishing a secure connection ...
www.popmatters.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
"Brandi Carlile has returned to herself, but that doesn’t mean isolation; it means taking her own awareness into community, knowing what to treasure and making sure to speak it." My review of Carlile's latest: www.popmatters.com/brandi-carli... @popmatters.com
Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan pushes the Mountain Goats into new territory as a band and as storytellers, marking a rich new entry worthy of close reading, musically and lyrically. My review: spectrumculture.com/2025/11/10/t...
The Mountain Goats: Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan - Spectrum Culture
Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan pushes The Mountain Goats into new territory as a band and as storytellers, marking a rich new entry worthy of close reading, musically and lyrically.
spectrumculture.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan pushes the Mountain Goats into new territory as a band and as storytellers, marking a rich new entry worthy of close reading, musically and lyrically. My review: spectrumculture.com/2025/11/10/t...
I'm a sucker for the Dunedin Sound. Here's my take on the latest from the Bats: spectrumculture.com/2025/11/05/t...
The Bats: Corner Coming Up - Spectrum Culture
The Bats’ ability to provide subtle shifts throughout both an album and a career demonstrates their continued sense of nuance.
spectrumculture.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I'm a sucker for the Dunedin Sound. Here's my take on the latest from the Bats: spectrumculture.com/2025/11/05/t...
Up today, my review of the fascinating new album from William Prince, with its mix of thematic coherence and precise writing: www.popmatters.com/william-prin...
William Prince Moves 'Further From the Country' » PopMatters
William Prince's mix of character studies and thoughtful meditations combine for an album with staying power. Further From the Country looks at change and distance.
www.popmatters.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Up today, my review of the fascinating new album from William Prince, with its mix of thematic coherence and precise writing: www.popmatters.com/william-prin...
My take on the latest from Public Enemy: spectrumculture.com/2025/10/28/p...
Public Enemy: Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025 - Spectrum Culture
If Public Enemy persists, and the cultural problems persist, it would be easy to sound discouraged, but Chuck D and Flavor Flav sound newly invigorated five years after their last release.
spectrumculture.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:46 PM
My take on the latest from Public Enemy: spectrumculture.com/2025/10/28/p...
I did a thing I do on occasion, writing about Waylon Jennings: spectrumculture.com/2025/10/22/w...
Waylon Jennings: Songbird - Spectrum Culture
An album like Songbird, with its covers and archival feel, isn't likely to ever feel essential, but that doesn't mean it isn't valuable.
spectrumculture.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I did a thing I do on occasion, writing about Waylon Jennings: spectrumculture.com/2025/10/22/w...
Shires creates a relatable narrative in Nobody’s Girl where things fall apart, but she finds ways to vine back up. My review of a deeply personal album: spectrumculture.com/2025/10/15/a...
Amanda Shires: Nobody's Girl - Spectrum Culture
Shires creates a relatable narrative in Nobody’s Girl where things fall apart, but Shires can find ways to vine back up.
spectrumculture.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Shires creates a relatable narrative in Nobody’s Girl where things fall apart, but she finds ways to vine back up. My review of a deeply personal album: spectrumculture.com/2025/10/15/a...
I've been listening to (and writing on) a good run of albums from some of my favorite artists lately. Up now is the latest from Rhett Miller. My review: www.popmatters.com/rhett-miller...
Rhett Miller Reflects on 'A Lifetime of Riding By Night' » PopMatters
Rhett Miller's A Lifetime of Riding by Night isn't an instant attention-grabber; it likely suits its titular setting. It is a deep and rewarding meditation.
www.popmatters.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I've been listening to (and writing on) a good run of albums from some of my favorite artists lately. Up now is the latest from Rhett Miller. My review: www.popmatters.com/rhett-miller...
Apparently I'm in the minority with this opinion, but I only mostly like and don't really love the new Jeff Tweedy album. My review: spectrumculture.com/2025/10/07/j...
Jeff Tweedy: Twilight Override - Spectrum Culture
Several of Twilight Override’s 30 songs are excellent and almost none of them stumble, yet few of them justify the album's sprawl.
spectrumculture.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Apparently I'm in the minority with this opinion, but I only mostly like and don't really love the new Jeff Tweedy album. My review: spectrumculture.com/2025/10/07/j...
Monday night I went to one of the best concerts I've seen in ages. Here are my thoughts on the Tyler Childers show: spectrumculture.com/2025/09/24/c...
Concert Review: Tyler Childers - Spectrum Culture
You can come for the fiddle, you can come for the conversation, you can even come for the humor, but you won't leave disappointed. Mostly, though, you come for the music.
spectrumculture.com
September 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Monday night I went to one of the best concerts I've seen in ages. Here are my thoughts on the Tyler Childers show: spectrumculture.com/2025/09/24/c...
My take on the new one from Kathleen Edwards: "Kathleen Edwards sounds as confident as ever, with a clear vision of what matters. This latest record is marked by wisdom, heart, and varied Americana." www.popmatters.com/kathleen-edw...
Kathleen Edwards Explores True Wealth on 'Billionaire' » PopMatters
Kathleen Edwards sounds as confident as ever, with a clear vision of what matters. This latest record is marked by wisdom, heart, and varied Americana.
www.popmatters.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:30 PM
My take on the new one from Kathleen Edwards: "Kathleen Edwards sounds as confident as ever, with a clear vision of what matters. This latest record is marked by wisdom, heart, and varied Americana." www.popmatters.com/kathleen-edw...
The new Brent Cobb record isn't breaking new ground, but it's a fun listen that shows another side of him. My thoughts: spectrumculture.com/2025/09/01/b...
Brent Cobb & The Fixin's: Ain't Rocked in a While - Spectrum Culture
Aside from his live shows, it would be hard to guess that a secret headbanger lived inside of Brent Cobb. With Ain't Rocked in a While, he brings that aspect of his art to the fore.
spectrumculture.com
September 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The new Brent Cobb record isn't breaking new ground, but it's a fun listen that shows another side of him. My thoughts: spectrumculture.com/2025/09/01/b...
The Who have just released a new (old) live album, so of course I reviewed it: spectrumculture.com/2025/08/25/t...
The Who: Live at the Oval 1971 - Spectrum Culture
If the Who sound a little rough at times, that's part of the fun, and this album captures them at a pivotal moment in their career, still tearing up the early music while simultaneously embracing a bi...
spectrumculture.com
August 28, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The Who have just released a new (old) live album, so of course I reviewed it: spectrumculture.com/2025/08/25/t...
My take on Snipe Hunter, the adventurous new album from Tyler Childers (now with even more snipe): spectrumculture.com/2025/08/04/t...
August 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
My take on Snipe Hunter, the adventurous new album from Tyler Childers (now with even more snipe): spectrumculture.com/2025/08/04/t...
I wrote about 10 deep cuts I'd like to see The Who play on their farewell tour. Most of them are pretty unlikely, but you never know... screenrant.com/the-who-tour...
10 Hidden Gems We Hope The Who Play On Their Farewell Tour
These songs would rock The Who's final tour.
screenrant.com
July 31, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I wrote about 10 deep cuts I'd like to see The Who play on their farewell tour. Most of them are pretty unlikely, but you never know... screenrant.com/the-who-tour...
I'm generally a fan of Patty Griffin's work, and the new one is very good: www.popmatters.com/patty-griffi...
Patty Griffin Shares a Secret With 'Crown Of Roses' » PopMatters
Patty Griffin's Crown of Roses peers in deep, influenced by her evolving relationship with her mother, but also expands enough to engage any openhearted listener.
www.popmatters.com
July 31, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I'm generally a fan of Patty Griffin's work, and the new one is very good: www.popmatters.com/patty-griffi...
"For fans of Weller, it's a great chance to spend an hour with the artist, here in sophisticated arranger mode." My thoughts on the new Paul Weller: spectrumculture.com/2025/07/29/p...
Paul Weller: Find El Dorado - Spectrum Culture
For fans of Weller, it's a great chance to spend an hour with the artist, here in sophisticated arranger mode.
spectrumculture.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:49 PM
"For fans of Weller, it's a great chance to spend an hour with the artist, here in sophisticated arranger mode." My thoughts on the new Paul Weller: spectrumculture.com/2025/07/29/p...
I followed up on some one-hit wonders that deserve a little more attention (including the most Pittsburgh-y of them): screenrant.com/music-1970s-...
What Happened To These 10 One-Hit Wonders From The 1970s?
We rediscover 10 one-hit wonders from the 1970s.
screenrant.com
July 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I followed up on some one-hit wonders that deserve a little more attention (including the most Pittsburgh-y of them): screenrant.com/music-1970s-...
The Old 97's are one of my favorite bands, so I was happy to learn that Murry Hammond has a new solo album. It lives up to expectations. My take: dustedmagazine.tumblr.com/post/7893421...
dustedmagazine.tumblr.com
July 21, 2025 at 5:19 PM
The Old 97's are one of my favorite bands, so I was happy to learn that Murry Hammond has a new solo album. It lives up to expectations. My take: dustedmagazine.tumblr.com/post/7893421...
I usually don't like writing negative articles - it's much more interesting to find good music or to analyze interesting ideas - but I had fun with this one: screenrant.com/classic-rock...
10 Terrible Classic Rock Albums From Genuinely Great Bands
Not all classic rock albums are smashes.
screenrant.com
July 14, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I usually don't like writing negative articles - it's much more interesting to find good music or to analyze interesting ideas - but I had fun with this one: screenrant.com/classic-rock...