Okay, let's pretend the universe coughed up "All the Christmas Lights." Not literally, of course, though I did find a sparkly rock in my pocket this morning – probably unrelated. This single by Eric Harmsen, straight outta Alpine, manages to feel both like a familiar, cozy sweater and a strangely uncharted territory. https://open.spotify.com/album/422cieMEcXDGkGRXvKa058 The music… it’s less jingle bell rock and more like a snow globe...

Outside Pedestrian have spent a quarter of a century dismantling expectations, and their new instrumental single "Drawbridge" proves they still enjoy pulling the rug out from under us. The eclectic trio thrives on tossing familiar setups into the void just to see how they spin. https://open.spotify.com/track/5elBwrs5fHV9ajK4mbQMxJ?si=e95203d6ff6f41a9 Here, they intentionally subvert the physics of jazz-rock and modern metal. Heavy, distorted aggression suddenly fractures, clearing the floor for...