Apologies for my absences, but I've been enjoying my time off between jobs by vacationing in Bass Lake in California and headed to Mexico on Wednesday with one of my best buddies. Been a blast so far!

This week's mixtape is focused primarily on a band that had not, until a couple weeks ago, released an album in six years. Their prior album was my #2 Album of 2011, the unforgettable Helplessness Blues.

I've been digesting their new album, Crack-Up, for weeks now, and man, this music is dense. There are songs within songs, sometimes three in one, pitch changes, rhythm changes, and musical facelifts in the middle of songs. These are not songs that immediately take. These songs really do age like a fine wine.

I remember listening to Helplessness Blues over and over and over again. I knew I liked it, but I didn't love it. For some reason, I just kept listening, and eventually, my like turned to love. I have a feeling something similar is happening with this new album.

No track immediately stood out for me on first listen, but now, I have a handful of tracks that I gravitate towards. I've placed these on this week's mixtape as well as some of my older favorites from them.

If you haven't given these guys a chance, just know that it takes some time, and listen in.