After the much edgier Reubonic in 2017, John Reuben is back and returns to form with his new self-titled release. Now 20 years since his Gotee Records debut, Reuben offers up a little of everything fans have come to love about his music, balancing his fun and more cynical sides. After delectable jams like "Cheer Up," "Off Key," the tongue-in-cheek "Secular Music," the playful "Call and Responsey," and my personal favorite, the nostalgia-drenched "Looking at Now," songs like the much darker "God's Politics" and the somewhat cynical (but not offbase) "Highlight Reel" can be a little jarring. Still, Reuben brings a lot to the table here to enjoy and even chew on lyrically, not to mention offering some great collaborations with rapper Alon Auguste, making this album a definite standout of the year already. - 2/24/20 John DiBiase