Maraad’s new album, “BUFF”, is a strange and beautiful paradox, an object forged in the very fire it’s meant to protect you from. Each track is presented as a "buff," a bit of protective magic for the spirit, but the energy humming underneath feels less like a polished shield and more like the faint, determined glow around a figure in a centuries-old altarpiece—somehow both...

Love Ghost from Los Angeles and Wiplash from Mexico make the best song about heartbreaks in the digital age. They meet in the neon-lit streets of modern music. "Left on Read," their fiery song, is a pop-punk blast that makes the fear of unread letters audible. This song stands out because of its strong notes and steady drum beats. They make me think of the...