Digging up some tunes today, we stumbled across “The Bar Fly,” the short and sweet instrumental by New Hampshire’s Adam Reczek; the song accompanies a movie of the same name, written and directed by artists from northern New Hampshire and Vermont. The instrumental is a cool meltdown with electric guitars that languidly ring out, a bass that crawls beautifully, and snaps that add a relaxed rhythm. There is not much more you can ask of the song, nor would you want to, but it does add curiosity for the movie it is attached to; stream “The Bar Fly” below for a respite from the world. - Rene Cobar, photo by Empire Imaging

Something dreamy, something sad—that is the glow that radiates from “18,” the new indie-folk single from Providence’s Dogs on Shady Lane. The acoustic guitar strums that softly thread about during the track begin to brighten as dreamy electric guitar accents pile up, and the reverbed vocals of project leader Tori Hall gently reflect on life and its sweet and sour melodies. Refrains such as “thick as brick but stick stone, hurt/me less than silence and warn/but burning hands mend me like wool, so feel me up/I’m too old to be crying so much” hint at strength and vulnerability, at the physical and its memory. The new track by Dogs on Shady Lane has in it all the charm of the indie-folk genre: escapist sounds you can drift away to and lyrics that ground you to a reality you help to shape; if you need a moment away from your busy Monday, we have it for you streaming below. - Rene Cobar, photo by Kannetha Brown

Streetlight Shakers are back! Well, they have not really been gone at all, but their new single “The Story” is just as triumphant, just as worthy of a hero’s welcome. The uplifting track serves as the hymn the three men from Connecticut share with the masses: a single jam-packed with the symbiotic rhythm that Nick Powell (drums, vocals) and Silvain Castellano (bass, vocals) produce + Jeff Boratko’s piano leads and vocal scales is all that is needed to celebrate a better tomorrow ahead. For the past few somber months, the group has managed to entertain its fans with creative recordings from home, showing them a glimmer of light among the shadows, something worth producing a smile for indeed. “The Story” feels like the end of the tunnel, or damn near close to it, it is a song meant to take you on the journey you have been longing for, somewhere away from troubles and closer to a better view. Stream “The Story” below for the midweek break you deserve. - Rene Cobar

Putting a collection together of one’s work is no easy task, each piece is part of a greater story being told, and it must be told well. Boston’s Alan Scardapane does this brilliantly with his collection titled Winter House. Each track showcases Alan’s easy-going approach to music and serious melodic chops. Songs like “Camden Yards” drop you into a place of comfort: the music, with its lingering harmonies, and soft acoustic guitar plucks, flows like a cool river or a spring breeze you want to listen to, to breathe in, take in. “Without You” is folk-rock for the moodiest of days and the warmest summer evenings. Alan has collected his best tunes of 2014-16, and it shows; stream the edgy “Whiskey Girl” below for a proper weekend greeting. - Rene Cobar

Boston's Danny Moffat (The Collect Pond) has been keeping busy alongside his acoustic guitar and soul-merging loops; his latest offering, “Traveling,”  is an ode to that which we hope for most at the moment: peace and familiarity. With a combination of gentle strums and relaxed-captivating vocals, Danny slows down the heartbeat, sharpens focus, and suspends you into a better reality. His indie folk track takes on a fun, fast-paced rhythm toward the end that is fitting, so pop-punk of him, a la acoustic that is, of course. Steam Danny’s latest track below for a mid-week mood uplift. - Rene Cobar