Blackbird on a Lonely Wire

Will Hoge’s second album doesn’t quite hit the blissful heights of his first, but it’s close. “Not That Cool” opens the proceedings with a cathartic rush, as Hoge wrings more emotion from the line “it would if I were more like James Dean” than one could reasonably expect. “Hey Tonight” and “Better Off Now (That You’re Gone)” are both brilliant as well, while the gentle “Baby Girl” foreshadows his future turn to alt country.