By Brent Thompson

It’s easy to categorize Brent Cobb as a Neo-traditionalist, but the singer/songwriter’s music has more in common with Tony Joe White’s swampy sounds and The Band’s countrified R&B than the music of Ray Price and Don Gibson. In fact, there’s even enough loose swagger in Cobb’s music to make Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker fans happy. Cobb’s latest, Providence Canyon [Low Country Sound/Elektra], is rife with soulful grooves and lively characters. In comparison to Cobb’s 2016 breakout Shine On Rainy Day, Providence tracks such as “King of Alabama” (a nod to fallen musician Wayne Mills), “Sucker for a Good Time,” and “Mornin’s Gonna Come” reveal a more confident side of his storytelling skills. Cobb’s cousin, in-demand producer Dave Cobb, keeps the songs thankfully relaxed and rather un-produced along the way. Ultimately, Brent accomplishes a difficult task – giving the listener familiar and fresh sounds at the same time.