Take Jack Horton, a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose path to folk-Americana included stops at Japanese law school, Tokyo piano bars, corporate boardrooms, and government offices. His latest EP, "Imperfections," feels like finding someone's private journal set to music. And that someone happens to write really, really well. The five-song collection opens with "Set Me Free," a piano-driven confession that might surprise anyone expecting typical breakup bitterness. Horton...

Big O, an American hip hop producer, recording and mixing engineer, and DJ, has dished out this new album he calls “When It’s Not Said, But Done.” This album is a dedication to the art of starting over. It shows the artist's subtle choice to try out new sounds and break old habits. He wants to make something real, without having to make assurances or statements,...