Larry Moffi of Settlement House writes of the poetry collection: "The poems of Matthew Johnson’s remarkable first book are vibrant, restless and yes, provocative. Their language deftly calls forth rich cultural perspectives of today and days gone by. From Sinatra to Paul Laurence Dunbar, from Charlie Parker to the Jim Crow South, Shadow Folk and Soul Songs cast a thoughtful net. This impressive bounty is both timely and urgent in addressing the seasons of our lives."