Listening to the new DaLomonze EP, "Picture Day," is a study in deceptive portraiture. You’re told it’s about capturing a moment, a fixed smile for the world, documenting personal growth. The Cleveland artist’s vocals are certainly grand enough for a milestone, full-bodied and cinematic, with an orchestral sweep that feels both holy and expensive. But something is hiding in the gorgeous frame. It’s not...

The arrival of Dan Devlin’s EP, "SCREAM," feels less like a music release and more like discovering an exquisitely crafted, slightly alarming Fabergé egg on your doorstep – open it up, and a miniature, glittering opera of heartbreak and eventual, roaring triumph plays out. Devlin, who seems to juggle the roles of singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ with the aplomb of a seasoned circus...