Holy Moly, “Golden Sombrero” (listen) – This is one of several tautly played, twangy tales on the Fort Worth country band’s new CD Grasshopper Cowpunk, which will be released Saturday during a show at the Aardvark. The tune isn’t lacking in corny lyrics (“‘Donde es tequila mi bonita senorita, said the man with the gold sombrero’”), but singer Joe Rose (pictured) possesses enough attitude to pull them off, and there’s some nice pedal steel to be found in there, too. Fun for all ages. (For more worthwhile down-home silliness, see my King Bucks review from yesterday.)

The Angelus, “Gone Country” (listen) – Emil Rapstine’s band is also hosting a CD release party on Saturday, at Rubber Gloves. Denton staple Gutterth’s helping put out the new album On a Dark & Barren Land (order here or get it at the show). On one of the already leaked tracks, the 6-minute requiem “Gone Country,” Rapstine’s voice is expectedly powerful, but it almost takes a back seat to the haunting guitars, thanks to the extended instrumental section in the song. Great one; can’t wait to hear the rest of the rekkid.

Teenage Cool Kids, “Landlocked State” (listen) – Yesterday, Chris Mosley posted a thoughtful review of what might be Teenage Cool Kids’ last album, Denton After Sunset. The fact that the record was coming had somehow escaped me before reading the review, so I downloaded it immediately. And I was thankful for the heads-up that Denton After Sunset sounds dramatically different than past releases including Foreign Lands, an album about which I’d gushed in a previous life. The new one’s more moody and inward, indeed, but there’s a track in there containing a few of those old rapturous pop whoo-whoos. “Landlocked State” might be the best of two TCK worlds, building from Andrew Savage’s perfectly deadpan verses into call-and-response infectiousness.

‘Escaping the Ordinary Vol. 2′ compilation (listen) — If you’re anything like me, you plan on being at home during much of the weekend to avoid the projectile-vomiting college football fanatics. I’d rather binge-drink in my living room, with the Rangers game on, thanks. A weekend hibernation session is also great for new-music surfing (SEGUE!). Music promoter Ty Griffin offers up free tracks from 23 alt-rock bands (local and otherwise) on his latest compilation, Escaping the Ordinary Vol. 2. You’ll find some good, hard stuff from area acts Trebuchet, the Phuss, Fair to Midland and Here Holy Spain, among others.

Justin Moore, “20 Years” (listen) – The Dallas rock band Max Cady has toiled in the scene for a few years now. Lead singer Justin Moore sought out some production help from Paul Williams at Tomcast for the band’s soon-to-be-released third album, Wicked Ways. What’s different about this one, though, is that it will come out on the same day as a solo record from Moore called Four Letter Blues. And while I certainly appreciate Max Cady’s no-frills approach to rock ‘n’ roll, I’m finding more to chew on in Moore’s side thang. “20 Years” sounds like a reverential ode to Nirvana. Good timing! I’ll revisit Moore and Max Cady once a release date is nailed down.