I only caught half a song by Torres at SXSW this year, but it was enough to make me a believer, watching Mackenzie Scott and company plunge their carefully arranged newfangled folk-rock down a black hole of searing harmonic static. Which is to say Torres ain’t mere coffee shop fare. In fact, the coffee-referencing masterstroke “Honey” is one of the year’s most harrowing power ballads. Scott’s exceptionally good at channelling those dark, damaged emotions. Torres’ self-titled debut got a little lost in 2013’s bumper crop of indie-rocking female singer-songwriter types — ‘sup, Don Giovanni Records roster — but you’d be wise to find this music. – Chris

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BUY: Torres is available via the band’s site.