The flawless arrangement, the production, and the writing are all top-notch, and Mardeee's song is a testament to his extraordinary abilities as a musician and songwriter. The new single "Away" features an appealing rhythm that hooks listeners and keeps them hooked, while his powerful voice shows that he sings the lyrics with passion and conviction. Mardeee's music is easily accessible because of his talent for creating...

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...