Maverick Smith’s “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” lands not with a thud, but with the distinct, satisfying crackle of something catching alight. It’s a title that carries the grit of the Ohio Valley in its consonants, a resolute statement from a band – Paige Bosic on commanding vocals and rhythm guitar, Sean Boynes sculpting soundscapes on guitar, Jim Courtney’s intricate drumming, Charlie Kovach’s...

Shyfrin Alliance’s single "Buddha Blues" drifts in like smoke under a door, carrying a peculiar scent – maybe old books and roadside diners? Founded by the rather polymathic Eduard Shyfrin (whose credentials span authorship, science, and classical piano), the project tackles big ideas, and this track is no exception. It sets up shop right at the crossroads of fleeting intimacy and determined solitude. https://open.spotify.com/album/4P9DJeygqxYfBxUIrC1gwZ?si=zhE5YvnCTma5rOKP0z7y1g There’s a...