Author: Justin Cober-Lake

Alternative Rock Art Pop Experimental Pop Rock 

A John Cale Listening Guide

July 2, 2024July 2, 2024 Justin Cober-Lake 4 Comments blackAcetate, Fear, HoboSapiens, John Cale, Lou Reed, Music for a New Society, Paris 1919, POPtical Illusion, Slow Dazzle, The Academy in Peril, The Velvet Underground, Vintage Violence

Looking back at the best titles from the Velvet Underground co-founder’s solo career

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Alternative Rock Rock 

Wishful Thinking: Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born at 20

June 24, 2024June 24, 2024 Justin Cober-Lake 0 Comments 2004, 2024, 20th Anniversary, A Ghost Is Born, Glenn Kotchke, Jeff Tweedy, Jim O'Rourke, John Stirratt, Nels Cline, Wilco

A look back at the Chicago greats’ most divisive album

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North Americana Pop Rock Soul 

Pokey LaFarge Ventures Into Rhumba Country

May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 Justin Cober-Lake 0 Comments 2024, Ken Boothe, New West Records, Pokey LaFarge, Rhumba Country

The American original talks about travel, spirituality and his eclectic new album

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Garage Rock New Wave Pop Punk Rock Rockabilly 

Mrs. Clash: A Chat with Pearl Harbour

April 12, 2024April 15, 2024 Justin Cober-Lake 1 Comment 1980, Don't Follow Me I'm Lost Too, Ian Dury, Liberation Hall Records, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Pearl Harbour, Pearl Harbour and the Explosions, The Clash, The Tubes, Topper Headon

The punk/New Wave era luminary offers insight into her wild career in rock ‘n’ roll

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Rock Southern Rock 

Blackberry Smoke Will Be Right Here

March 7, 2024March 7, 2024 Justin Cober-Lake 0 Comments 3 Legged Records, Be Right Here, Blackberry Smoke, Brit Turner, Charlie Starr, COVID-19, Dave Cobb, Find a Light, Layla, Ram Dass

Talking with frontman Charlie Starr about the band’s electrifying new album

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Hip Hop 

If It’s Artificial Let It Be: The Roots’ Things Fall Apart at 25

February 24, 2024February 24, 2024 Justin Cober-Lake 0 Comments 1999, 25th Anniversary, Black Thought, Common, Erykah Badu, Hub, Malik B, Questlove, Rahzel, Scratch, The Roots, Things Fall Apart, You Got Me

Looking back on the album that put the Philly band on the mainstream map

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North Americana Rock 

Uncle Lucius Is A Band

December 31, 2023December 31, 2023 Justin Cober-Lake 0 Comments David Byrne, Dixie Chicks, Hal Jon Vorpahl, Kevin Galloway, Like It's The Last One Left, Thirty Tigers, Tosca String Quartet, Uncle Lucius

And frontman Kevin Galloway does not want you to forget it

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Alternative Rock Country and/or Western Rock 

We’ve Been Had: Uncle Tupelo’s Anodyne at 30

October 11, 2023October 11, 2023 Justin Cober-Lake 0 Comments 1993, 30th Anniversary, Anodyne, Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Ken Coomer, Max Johnston, Reprise Records, Sire Records, Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco

Reflections on the alt-country pioneers’ studio swan song

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Garage Rock Power Pop Punk Rock 

Lone Album from the Exploding Hearts Gets Expanded Reissue

June 8, 2023June 8, 2023 Justin Cober-Lake 1 Comment 2003, 2023, Adam Cox, Exploding Hearts, Guitar Romantic, The Buzzcocks, The Jam, The Ramones, Third Man Records

Even 20 years on, Guitar Romantic still sounds timeless

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adblock Alternative Rock Britpop Rock 

So Young: Suede at 30

March 29, 2023March 30, 2023 Justin Cober-Lake 1 Comment 1993, 30th Anniversary, Animal Nitrate, Bernard Butler., Brett Anderson, Metal Mickey, So Young, Suede, The Drowners, The London Suede

How the London band’s eponymous debut rebooted Britpop

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Hard Rock Heavy Metal Irish Rock 

This Is The One: Thin Lizzy’s Thunder and Lightning at 40

March 28, 2023March 30, 2023 Justin Cober-Lake 0 Comments 1983, 40th Anniversary, Brian Downey, Ireland, Irish, John Sykes, Phil Lynott, Scott Gorham, Thin Lizzy, Thunder and Lightning, Warner Bros. Records

Reflecting on the Irish greats’ final studio album

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Hard Rock Heavy Metal Rock 

Place In Line: Deep Purple’s Who Do We Think We Are at 50

January 23, 2023 Justin Cober-Lake 0 Comments 50th anniversary, Deep Purple, Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, Jon Lord, Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Who Do We Think We Are, Woman from Tokyo

Looking back at an underrated album from the band’s Mark II era

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Soul 

Hot Just Like An Oven: Marvin Gaye’s Midnight Love at 40

December 6, 2022December 6, 2022 Justin Cober-Lake 0 Comments 1982, 40th Anniversary, Bob Marley, David Ritz, Gordon Banks, Joy, Marvin Gaye, Midnight Lady, Midnight Love, Odell Brown, Sexual Healing, Third World Girl

Why the singer’s final studio album is so much more than “Sexual Healing”

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Alternative Rock Rock 

ALBUMS: The Afghan Whigs — Still Smoldering After All These Years

October 10, 2022October 10, 2022 Justin Cober-Lake 1 Comment BMG, Greg Dulli, How Do You Burn?, MARK LANEGAN, Royal Cream, The Afghan Whigs

How Do You Burn? arrives with a mix of inevitability and gratitude

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Rock 

One Life’s Enough: The Who’s It’s Hard at 40

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022 Justin Cober-Lake 3 Comments 1982, 40th Anniversary, Athena, Eminence Front, It's Hard, John Entwistle, Kenney Jones, MCA Records, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, The Who

Looking back on one of the band’s most underrated albums

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