Charlottesville, Virginia natives Moonshine Hooligans write fun mixtures of mountain folk, indie pop, and psychedelic rock. “Subterranean Secrets” started as a writing session inspired by a test batch of moonshine whiskey. Amazing they were able to write quite sobering music using such varied instruments as a Moog synthesizer, Mellotron, Hammond organ, fiddle, cello, banjo, mandolin, celeste, harmonium, piano, drums, bass, and guitar. The songwriting is filled to the brim with fascinating tales you could hear whispered and gossiped at the local feed store. Fans of alt-country should most definitely own this album.

Giant Sand’s career has spanned 25 years and “Blurry Blue Mountain” is proof positive that Arizona-based musician Howe Gelb, the mastermind behind Giant Sand, hasn’t lost a step. This album follows on the footsteps of their 2008 critically acclaimed “ProVisions”. Another jaunt through the roots of alt-country, lo-fi, jazz, punk, and roots rock finds Giant Sand delivering another awe-inspiring entry into a dizzying talented resume. Leaning on an improvisational take at songwriting, “Blurry Blue Mountain” is a sleepy and lazy adventure with memorable desert tales from one of alt-country’s most inspirational figures.

Mustache rides, $0.25. But in all seriousness, Tracy Stefans composes disposable country rock that occasionally hits a good note or two with the every-now-and-again knee-slapper, other than that, this is just plain trailer park boredom.