Authenticity in music is a rare currency. In a time of polished productions and carefully constructed personas, an album like Lisa Jo's "Hood Rats" feels like a jolt of unfiltered reality. It is a record born not in a boardroom, but in the crucible of personal tragedy and immense resilience. The result is a collection of songs that are as raw and uncompromising as the life...

Iona Griffey's latest number one is just as sweet as the treats we love to eat. Despite the melancholy subject matter, the song's title is a perfect metaphor for its sound and atmosphere. This summer will see the release of her newest album, and the song "Candy" will serve as the album's lead single. It's probably killing you not to know what it is already. In...