Empty Pinata – remember LA Rodriguez? – serves up the single "Bonfire," and honestly, the air changes slightly when you play it. It’s less like passively listening and more like discovering a singed diary page fluttering down a quiet street. The music itself is this curious contradiction, wrapping harrowing emotional shrapnel in the comforting gauze of indie-pop, flecked with soft rock warmth. A strangely...

You should listen to Zachary Aldana's new single "Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You)" while you can because it's sure to be a season-defining hit. This new version of Kelly Clarkson's holiday smash is full of life and energy, taking the infectious enthusiasm of the original and adding his soulful style and hypnotic depth of tone. While introducing a wider tone to his music, which suggests a...