Maverick Smith’s “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” lands not with a thud, but with the distinct, satisfying crackle of something catching alight. It’s a title that carries the grit of the Ohio Valley in its consonants, a resolute statement from a band – Paige Bosic on commanding vocals and rhythm guitar, Sean Boynes sculpting soundscapes on guitar, Jim Courtney’s intricate drumming, Charlie Kovach’s...

Mick J Clark unfurls “Anuther Sunny Hulliday,” and one finds oneself contemplating the peculiar architecture of joy, especially when it’s blueprinting escape for the very young. This pop-dance single practically hums with pre-departure jitters, a concentrated dose of that effervescent anticipation before you trade spreadsheets for sandcastles, or, in this case, school chairs for a “Parrot Dance.” https://open.spotify.com/track/0EYQmXFgcmmJUUKF5QTZEo?si=0bUuw3nHQkSJs6ibX95EJA The promise is classic, distilled sunshine: clear blue...