In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, Ry Cooder talks to writer Gavin Edwards about his most recent release, I, Flathead, the third in his "California trilogy" of albums about life in his home state in the ever more distant past of the mid-20th century.

Edwards describes the album's music as ranging "from country to mariachi to gutbucket blues, unified by Cooder's raspy vocals and his lyrical guitar playing: light on flash, heavy on feeling." Perhaps one reason that feeling comes through on the recording is the casual atmosphere of the recording session. As Ry describes it in the article: "I had guitar amps in the bathroom and bass amps in the closet ... We just played those tunes once."

Ry also gives some insight into the forthcoming release of the Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall, which he has produced, to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the group's performance at the Hall. "That was an amazing show," he tells Edwards. "It has tremendous energy and verve but no aggression at all."

To read the article, go to rollingstone.com.

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Ry also made an appearance in the New York Times's book blog last week. Author Clyde Edgerton (most recently, The Bible Salesman) shares a playlist of his favorite songs, on which was the song "I Think It’s Going to Work Out Fine" from Ry's 1979 album Bop Till You Drop. Writes Edgerton:

At 47 seconds comes a sound that epitomizes what can be said with an electric slide guitar and demonstrates Cooder’s mastery of his instrument, the loose precision of his technique. This song will take you back to any place you’ve ever been that you now wish you could revisit.

On the same list is Randy Newman's "You Can Leave Your Hat On," which, says Edgerton, echoing the lyrics, "is a reason to live ... Play this song while you’re with the one you love."

To read the complete list, visit papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com.