The last straw arrives quietly: I know who this person is, and I am done negotiating. Ally Cribb catches that switch in “Stand Back,” a country-pop single that puts self-respect ahead of another round of apologies. The 2025 four-minute record speaks to anyone who has confused patience with permission. Its title hits like a raised palm, immediate and impossible to misunderstand. Cribb is a Toronto-born singer-songwriter...

The songs of Stephanie Phillips' music have a clear sense of connection to her. There is a sense of affinity in these songs as she talks about the ups and downs of life. Her style of music, which she calls "progressive folk," Stephanie writes songs that stay with you and make you feel intense emotions long after the last tune is played. Andrew Bird, Cat Stevens, and...