Allison Kane is one of the few artists with the inborn capacity to weave complex tales with their words, but the fact remains. Recently released by the American vocalist, "Next Life" tells the heartbreaking tale of a love that has been shattered by forces beyond either person's control, leaving a gap that no amount of time or effort can seem to heal. The upbeat pop/punk song takes...

Ultan’s single, "The Tempest," erupts not so much into the room as it does through the floorboards, dragging with it the scent of wet wool and imminent confrontation. This Dublin solo musician, a cartographer of past agonies, presents an energetic rock piece that feels less like a song about history and more like a fragment of it, throbbing and urgent. The main riff careers...