Listening to Arnold J.’s new single, "Muddy Waters," isn't quite like anything else swirling around right now. It arrives with the gentle insistence of incoming tide, pulling you into its specific gravity. Arnold J., Ghanaian-born and now Canada-based, weaves a sound tagged as alt-country and folk, but those labels feel thin, like trying to contain smoke. There’s earthiness, sure, but his soulful vocal lines...

This track 'Blue Honey' hits with the bracing impact of a slushy projectile hurled directly at your jaw. From the very first chord, Conor Maradona grabs your attention and refuses to let go, establishing an immediate, undeniable vibe. It is the sound of someone who has stopped trying to impress the cool kids and decided to just throw a party for the misfits instead. You...