Before listening to a single note of Suris’ new album, “Pertinax”, I spent a few minutes just looking at the word. Pertinax. It has the distinct ring of a Stoic philosopher’s last defiant utterance or maybe a type of beetle known for its unusually stubborn shell. What a curious flag to fly for a collection of songs in an age of fleeting distraction. But...

Imagine the calm waters of an ocean while listening to Ray Johnson's most recent hit, "Ocean Blue," and you'll start to get an idea of what the song is about. This song is the most recent example of the growing tide of love and adoration that the band is receiving from its legion of devoted followers, both new and old. Ray's musical journey will both warm...