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The second album since siblings Curt and Cris Kirkwood reunited their iconic alt-rock outfit continues the tug-of-war between charmingly askew country rock and mildly deranged psychedelia that marked their '80s–'90s run. But Meat Puppets 2.0 is a more polished, less accidental venture than the original, which isn't necessarily a drawback.

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Ignored by record buyers, the late Townes Van Zandt was beloved by colleagues, including Steve Earle, who named his son Justin Townes Earle to honor the Texas troubadour. While Earle's brawny attack might seem ill-suited to Van Zandt's wistful angst, he does his idol justice on this vibrant covers set, delivering supersonic bluegrass

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This strange, fascinating EP dramatizes the desperate fumbling for order amid chaos. Produced by the Secret Machines' Brandon Curtis, the South African quartet generates a grimy whirlwind of noise containing everything from prog rock to dub reggae to folk, with somber singer Lindani Buthelezi fighting to be heard over fractured melodies and jagged rhythms.

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The songs are an effortless blend of vintage country and pre-rock'n'roll pop, but New Mexico's Handsome Family are no cutesy nostalgia act. On their eighth album, spouses Brett and Rennie Sparks continue to put a brilliantly surreal twist on everyday subjects, using nature imagery to evoke the weird intensity of all-consuming passions. Although Brett's drunken 3 A.M.

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One track on Richard Swift's fourth album is coproduced by Mark Ronson (of Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen renown), raising some suspicions that this singer-songwriter craves a larger audience. And why not?

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Grizzled Texans Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock originally teamed up in the '70s, then opted for solo careers. Hills and Valleys, their third studio album since reuniting in the late '90s, holds zero surprises -- mixing Tex-Mex bounce, outlaw twang, and folkie sincerity -- but it feels utterly right, like your favorite greasy meal at the local diner.