The Austin-based songwriter Alex Winters turns the terrifying act of emotional surrender into a towering alt-rock confession. There is a specific kind of silence that occupies a room right before a heavy truth is spoken aloud. It is thick, suffocating, and entirely self-imposed. We build fortresses out of our past traumas, stacking bricks of deflection and mortar of avoidance to guarantee nothing can ever hurt us...

If you ask around, you will discover that the new single "Christmas Angel" by German vocalist Nadine Stockmann is outstanding by any standard. The new song invites everyone who hears it and engages with it to experience happiness in its purest form. It doesn't matter what it is; the song is significantly superior. Since it is so relatable and all-encompassing, you can practically give the impression...