Janet Devlin’s new single, “Houston,” arrives as a gleeful contradiction, a two-stepping Americana anthem for the sovereign state of one. It has all the upbeat, country-rock fixings for a roadside sing-along, yet its heart is miles away, floating in a self-imposed, wonderfully stubborn vacuum. The track opens, and you’re ready for a communal good time; instead, you find yourself at a party where the...

There’s a strange and lovely tension in "My Ears Are Attentive" from Glory Company, a sensation akin to watching a storm gather over a placid lake. Husband-and-wife duo Matthew and Pearl Nagy have built a vessel of spacious synths and contemplative pop, yet beneath the surface, there’s a current pulling you under with an undeniable, almost danceable, rhythm. It's an odd invitation to move...