“Hey Man. Amen.” hits hardest where care runs out of practical answers. Thousand Pieces, the solo project of singer-songwriter Jamie Smith, takes that difficult moment and gives it a name. This ViViPlay single review looks at an indie rock release shaped by a close friend’s alcoholism, repeated attempts at rehabilitation and the helplessness of people who still care. Smith learned guitar after receiving his first one...

The fastest pop songs arrive like a notification. Ben Lester’s self-titled debut does something more interesting: it lets the listener wait for the message to finish forming. Across 13 tracks for Mayfield Records, the London singer, songwriter, performer and producer turns patience into part of the pleasure. The result is indie pop with an arranger’s discipline, a record built for people who like a chorus but...