Justin Cober-Lake lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife, kids, and dog. His writing has appeared in a number of places, including Stylus, Paste, Chord, and Trouser Press. His work made its first appearance on CD with the release of Todd Goodman’s first symphony, Fields of Crimson. He’s recently co-founded the literary fly-fishing journal Rise Forms.
Features
Wednesday, May 19 2010
Now Hear This!: mewithoutYou [Philadelphia, PA]
It's unlikely that a post-hardcore band that transformed into an indie-pop act while filling out its complex religious and philosophical traditions would have made the best album of 2009.
Sunday, August 16 2009
Three Days, Forty Years, Six Discs
It's the enticing performances of the smaller acts -- and not the explosions of the big ones -- that made Woodstock such a singular event.
Thursday, April 3 2008
Salim Nourallah [Dallas, Texas]
Despite intense familiy struggles, Salim Nourallah has truly blossomed into his own as one of the most talented musicians in a too-often overlooked scene.
Friday, August 31 2007
Flower Power: Stepping Back From the Past
After years of talking about how great this music is, it's time we started actually listening to it. For example, does a song sound like the year 1968, or does it sound like Deep Purple?
Thursday, November 9 2006
Our Story Is a Perennial One: An Interview with Pete Townshend
With a new Who album out, Townshend talks about connectedness, the joys and perils of technology, and his thoughts on songwriting.
Columns
Friday, May 25 2007
Little Punk Babies
As Evelyn McDonnell's new book illustrates, motherhood should be neither something done on the side, nor something that pushes everything else away, and it's that balance that our culture and government can be striving for.
Wednesday, January 10 2007
Honey Hush
Popular songs like Da Muzicianz' 'Hush' suggests that it's not only okay, but romantic and positive to assume to know what a woman wants, and to act in her best interests, while she may not say otherwise.
Wednesday, June 21 2006
Talk of the Town
Cober-Lake speaks with Chris Pugmire of the Seattle band Shoplifting about politics' place in punk rock, the role of men in feminism, and the dangerous power of language.
Friday, May 12 2006
It's Different for Girls
Rounder Records' new tween collective, a manufactured group of girls with inflexibly 'distinct personalities', is little more than harmless fun for a very specific target market. But what potential effects will Girl Authority have on the developing identity of its audience?
Reviews
Wednesday, February 8 2012
The Old 97's: 28 January 2012 - Charlottesville, VA
The Old 97's use two decades of experience to make being professional feel like anything but that.
Monday, January 30 2012
The Bats: Free All the Monsters
It shouldn't be surprising that the Bats have crystallized a particular sound, but it might be surprising that they've just released some of their best music.
Friday, December 9 2011
Vanessa Peters: The Christmas We Hoped For
This festive tease showcases Peters as a writer and vocalist.
Tuesday, December 6 2011
Johnny Cash: Bootleg Vol. 3: Live Around the World
This two-disc set provides a pretty compelling look at Cash, sometimes as a study, but often simply as a strange sort of concert.
Tuesday, November 22 2011
Mike Doughty: Yes and Also Yes
Doughty's latest solo offers provides fun hooks and plenty of nuggets to reward multiple listens.
Blogs
Tuesday, February 7 2012
Azure Blue Harkens Back to the '80s with "Seasons"
Performing as Azure Blue, Tobias Isaksson looks back to the 1980s for much of his sound on his new release Rule of Thirds.
