Maverick Smith’s “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” lands not with a thud, but with the distinct, satisfying crackle of something catching alight. It’s a title that carries the grit of the Ohio Valley in its consonants, a resolute statement from a band – Paige Bosic on commanding vocals and rhythm guitar, Sean Boynes sculpting soundscapes on guitar, Jim Courtney’s intricate drumming, Charlie Kovach’s...

Here we have Giant Killers with their single “One For Georgie,” a name that immediately sends ripples back three decades, a testament to patience and perhaps a touch of rightful stubbornness. Jamie Wortley and Michael Brown, the duo who saw their initial 90s trajectory cut short, are back, holding the reins to their own music. And this release feels less like dusting off relics...