Lone Justice cover

Lone Justice

Released

Lone Justice didn’t invent cowpunk — but there’s an argument to be made that they perfected it on this, their 1985 debut album, a headlong dive into a musical mosh pit that swirled with honky tonk blues, rockabilly, punk, and gospel. Maria McKee’s voice was a wonder: high-pitched but not girlish, soulful but not soully, country but not hillbilly. Jimmy Iovine’s production is dense and loud but also colorful. When Maria McKee snaps “Wait ‘Til We Get Home” to her obnoxious boyfriend she makes it very clear that that’s a threat rather than a promise, while “You Are the Light” seems to be an unironic song of religious devotion.

Rick Anderson

Recommended by

Suggestions
Molloy, Brady, Peoples cover

Molloy, Brady, Peoples

Matt Molloy, Paul Brady, Tommy Peoples
The Lone Bellow cover

The Lone Bellow

The Lone Bellow
On Our Way cover

On Our Way

I See Hawks in L.A.
Sidelong cover

Sidelong

Sarah Shook
Bidin’ My Time cover

Bidin’ My Time

Chris Hillman
Brutal Youth cover

Brutal Youth

Elvis Costello
Baby You Win cover

Baby You Win

Cliff Westfall
Offering cover

Offering

Surge and the Swell