The first listen of Haus of Sound’s new single, “Mirage,” is like walking into a room where a beautifully ornate vase has just been shattered against a wall. There's a jagged, crystalline energy here, a collision of theatrical drama and raw, modern discontent. Evolving from their 2000s tribute roots, the Everett band has synthesized the best of that era’s angst—the coiled tension of early...

HollyBear does not sound heartbroken on "OBVIOUS". She sounds like she already checked the receipts, closed the app, fixed her hair, and decided the lesson was expensive but useful. That is the fun of the single. It has the warmth of R&B, the cool posture of jazz influence, and the tiny side-eye of someone who knows exactly what happened. "OBVIOUS" moves with a smile that...