Dr. Cryme has not lowered his standards in any way, despite the fact that his Kwasi EP from the previous year was met with a great deal of praise from critics and fans alike. He has had a fruitful start to the new year, highlighted by the debut of the music video for the song "Too Known" that he wrote and performed. The fourth track on...

The opening seconds of Brett Copeland’s single, "I Wanna Live", don’t ask for your attention; they stage a hostile takeover. This is a song that feels less written and more clawed out of a desperate moment, built with the kind of volcanic energy that powers revival tents and bar-room brawls. Copeland’s voice is the main event—a raw, muscular instrument that sounds like it's been...