The first listen of Haus of Sound’s new single, “Mirage,” is like walking into a room where a beautifully ornate vase has just been shattered against a wall. There's a jagged, crystalline energy here, a collision of theatrical drama and raw, modern discontent. Evolving from their 2000s tribute roots, the Everett band has synthesized the best of that era’s angst—the coiled tension of early...

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...