Janet Devlin’s new single, “Houston,” arrives as a gleeful contradiction, a two-stepping Americana anthem for the sovereign state of one. It has all the upbeat, country-rock fixings for a roadside sing-along, yet its heart is miles away, floating in a self-imposed, wonderfully stubborn vacuum. The track opens, and you’re ready for a communal good time; instead, you find yourself at a party where the...

With this song, American rapper Frank Black takes a more thoughtful and aware style, rapping about topics that many people from all backgrounds may connect to. The new song "Peaks and Valleys" demonstrates his true interest in conscious matters, and his ability to use his words to highlight critical societal and artistic concerns distinguishes him as an artist with a mission. His songwriting is both interesting...