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...

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...