Galen Ballinger, Ben Ballinger, Sentimental Family Band (Duo)

Brothers Ben and Galen Ballinger both delivered new albums last month and offer a repeat of their dual South by Southwest release show after the mayhem. Galen opens with his brooding Dumb Balloon, heavy beats etching into his darkly intoned vocals that lull into hypnotic invocations. Ben, meanwhile, unloads a mixture of vitriol and sadness laced with a weary wonder on Egress, his first full LP since 2014’s The State I’m In. The local songwriter weaves with an emotional intensity, sparking between small, vivid revelations and regrets. – Doug Freeman