Take Jack Horton, a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose path to folk-Americana included stops at Japanese law school, Tokyo piano bars, corporate boardrooms, and government offices. His latest EP, "Imperfections," feels like finding someone's private journal set to music. And that someone happens to write really, really well. The five-song collection opens with "Set Me Free," a piano-driven confession that might surprise anyone expecting typical breakup bitterness. Horton...

So, Brendan McKinney and the 99 Brown Dogs drop "Fashion Magazine" into the world, and honestly, the title itself throws you for a loop before a single note plays. Expecting glitter? Nope. This thing lands with the satisfying thud of a well-made boot hitting packed earth. It’s got that signature tight, chewy groove they’re known for – a compelling shuffle somewhere between Americana grit...