There's a curious jolt in hearing a title like "Us Against The World" from an act called The Cockney Cowboy. The name itself is a glorious contradiction, a pairing of gritty East London reality with the wide-open romance of Nashville. You half expect a joke, but what Justin Vella delivers is a dead-serious, straight-shooting country ballad that smells less of hay bales and more...

Katie Belle's voice floats through the speakers like smoke curling toward the ceiling. Her latest single "Cigarette," marks another significant milestone in the Atlanta native's ascending career trajectory. Long-time partner Fabio Campedelli produced the song, which shows Belle's amazing ability to turn personal thought into something that everyone can relate to. The first notes pull you into a sonic atmosphere that feels both familiar and fresh....