‘Smoke Sessions’ is one of Nicholas Payton’s standouts because in paying homage to some of his idols, Payton does so in an offhand manner that reveals his own inimitable musical personality.

Arnold M discusses the debut album from Karate School Dropout, a fun blend of new wave, dreampop, techno and shoegaze.

The versatile Richard Turgeon’s “Seven Stories” shows he not only has the ambition to dive headlong into uncharted waters, but succeeds when doing so.