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...

A year after the release of his first song, "Change," Chris B., also known as Villeman, is still keeping a low profile. But it has nothing to do with the caliber of his music in any way, shape, or form. The fantastic radio songs of the 1990s that we all hold dearest in our memories have impacted the blend of pop, folk, and grunge. The use...