Justin Sullivan—often found alongside Kevin Morby and known for rough-edged garage rock with Flat Worms—takes a different path with his solo project Night Shop. Here, he leans more into the Morby side of things, perhaps more clearly than ever on his new album The Beloved Returns (Salinas).
Inspired by Thomas Mann’s Lotte in Weimar, the record explores themes of passion and desire. Sullivan brings Jessica Boudreaux along for the journey, weaving through the emotional highs and lows.
“Ode to Joy II” sets a moody tone to open the album, before things briefly pick up with some punchy, rumbling rock. But it doesn’t stay there for long.
The atmospheric tracks take the lead—somewhere between Americana, folk, and alternative rock. With “Once Bitten, Twice Bored,” Sullivan delivers a standout moment: a six-minute piece with stripped-back drums and a sharp eye for detail.
Night Shop – The Beloved Returns: Passionate folk rock. – RIFL