You know that exact second when everyone is staring at you, waiting for you to blow out the candles, and all you want to do is disappear? Ava Valianti has captured that highly specific, deeply uncomfortable feeling and turned it into an absolute indie pop gem. Her latest single, "Birthday Cake," drops you right into the middle of a party you never wanted to attend....

Alright, let's talk about "I'll Never Find Another You" by Partners In Crime. These fellas from Toronto, Colin Whiteford (guitar and vocals), Doug Pegg (drums and vocals), Gene Falbo (bass guitar), and Terry Gadsden on keyboards, apparently go way back to grade school in Scarborough. I've often wondered if my old desk buddy, Barry, is making killer tunes these days – probably not, Barry’s...