The air crackles a bit differently when a new track from DJThriller arrives. There’s an expectation, a certain hum that suggests you’re not just about to hear a song, but perhaps a piece of someone’s mind, meticulously laid bare. With “Ain’t Asking,” that hum amplifies into a clear, resonant signal. This is a front-and-centre declaration, a modern alt-rap piece that feels less like a request...

Stars Go Dim’s new album, “Roses,” has a peculiar effect; it settles into a room less like music and more like a change in the atmospheric pressure. There’s a plush, amber-toned sound here, a vibe so authentically steeped in 1970s groove that you can almost feel the corduroy under your fingertips. https://open.spotify.com/album/1KS8wbOx2wWw1ce0VdcMgV?si=VRrFtLJDQi-8gD8p8t1BlQ Chris Cleveland’s vocals, smooth and seasoned like worn-in denim, glide over bass lines that...