Mark Springer Releases A new collaborative album with Neil Tennant "Sleep Of Reason" "Sleep of Reason" turns out to be a reflection on the chaos of modern life. This big double vinyl record puts together three musical styles that do not seem to go together: Mark Springer's thoughtful piano playing, Neil Tennant's unique singing, and the precise skill of the Sacconi String Quartet. The three-part piece...

Ava Valianti represents something increasingly rare in contemporary music: genuine precocity without artifice. This Massachusetts artist, who is only fifteen years old, handles general themes with a level of emotional depth that is shocking. She shows that youth can bring out the best in complicated human experiences, rather than hiding them. "Distant," her sixth single, functions as a sonic archaeology of friendship's dissolution. The track excavates layers...