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...

Lincoln’s Future Theory have distilled a uniquely modern affliction into their new single, "Reality Buzz." It’s the specific sound of a cheap energy drink fizzing next to an overdue bill. A nervous, propulsive energy runs through the track, a driving alt-rock current that feels like trying to walk in a straight line while the world tilts on its axis. The guitars, steeped in a...