Monne’s album, "Jungle of Emotions", completely bypasses the sterile algorithmic sorting of modern music and heads straight for the ribcage. It is a sprawling, deeply biological record. The Norwegian independent artist has crafted an expansive ecosystem of cinematic Nordic art pop, neo-folk, and subtle psychedelia. It doesn't ask for your passive attention. It demands your absolute vulnerability. https://open.spotify.com/album/1hSa5M3fAHrysHQSW7kL36?si=HGzHCD5USGy_yfLe9L24DQ The title track, "Jungle of Emotions", sets a...

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...