James Keen's 'Crossover': A Solo Triumph Blending Pop-Rock Mastery with Acoustic Soul Award-winning singer, songwriter, and composer James Keen goes back to his roots with a truly solo 'Crossover' album that he wrote, recorded, performed, produced, and mixed all by himself. The album is just as ambitious in terms of the richness of the musical landscape, the mixing of genres, and the variety of sounds. 'Crossover,' which...

Empty Pinata – remember LA Rodriguez? – serves up the single "Bonfire," and honestly, the air changes slightly when you play it. It’s less like passively listening and more like discovering a singed diary page fluttering down a quiet street. The music itself is this curious contradiction, wrapping harrowing emotional shrapnel in the comforting gauze of indie-pop, flecked with soft rock warmth. A strangely...