Some tracks do not ask for your attention; they kick the door off the hinges and drag you along for the ride. "Sora" hits the ear with zero hesitation, dropping you straight into the middle of a high speed pursuit. There is no slow build, no gentle introduction, and absolutely no time to catch your breath. Itssmill captures the exact feeling of running late for something...

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...