Take Jack Horton, a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose path to folk-Americana included stops at Japanese law school, Tokyo piano bars, corporate boardrooms, and government offices. His latest EP, "Imperfections," feels like finding someone's private journal set to music. And that someone happens to write really, really well. The five-song collection opens with "Set Me Free," a piano-driven confession that might surprise anyone expecting typical breakup bitterness. Horton...

One of music's numerous benefits is its ability to motivate and encourage its listeners. As you can see, the point of this song is to motivate and energize you. The Canadian singer returns with a new track she's titled "Mona's Song" since it was written for a specific person whose name is Mona. You've finally figured out the origin of the title. Melyssa Lee's music is...