Robin James Hurt’s “A Song, A Story Told” arrives with a sound you can almost run a thumb over, like worn corduroy. In an age of sterile, diamond-polished productions, this album is a defiantly handmade thing, tracked onto vintage cassette machines. The result is not a flaw, but an ingredient. A faint, persistent hiss breathes alongside the instruments, a ghost in the machine who...

Christmas is getting nearer, and we are returning to join hands in solidarity and compassion. Families get to celebrate in style this holiday season, thanks to Yemi Alafifuni's invitation. His newest single, "Home," has a comforting and festive atmosphere, and he hopes that every home will be overflowing with joy this year. The musician from the United Kingdom made a lovely and honorable gesture. Jamie Snell's...