Fair or not, I tend to give Davíd Garza a bit of a free pass. That’s what happens when a guy writes what I’d have to consider one of my top 10 albums of the ’90s. I don’t hesitate to say This Euphoria (1998) belongs in every collection. (Overdub is pretty great, too.)

Problem is, Garza, who hails from Austin, has a bit of that Ryan Adams problem: He’s immensely prolific … maybe to a fault. At the very least, it’s hard to keep up with his numerous releases, many of which have been digital-only in recent years.

So I shouldn’t have been surprised to realize that I totally missed the boat on Garza’s late ’08 release, Dream Delay (available on eMusic). I actually was clued in by Paul Ford’s often-hilarious six-word reviews of SXSW mp3s, in which he gave the Garza song 2 Sinners in the Garden five dots/circle thingies (the highest rating).

Because I just got Dream Delay, I’m still soaking it in, but it does feature guest spots from Fiona Apple (who chose Garza to open for her on tour), Al Jourgensen of Ministry (WTF?) and Jim Ward of At the Drive-In/Sparta/Sleepercar.

Check out 2 Sinners in the Garden, which Ford ever-tersely said is “better than most soundtrack-friendly indie.”

• Davíd Garza | 2 Sinners in the Garden

BONUS:

• Davíd Garza | Float Away

(From This Euphoria. Put it on your next mixtape and thank me later.)

Few voices are as distinct and recognizable in indie rock as Jeremy Enigk’s, so it’s good to hear the former Sunny Day Real Estate frontman on this new track Mind Idea, the first single from the forthcoming OK Bear.

Billboard reported in November that Enigk “returns to the heavier rock sound of his old band” on the new solo album, which likely means we won’t see anything as grandiose or orchestral as Return of the Frog Queen, his amazing solo debut. Still, Enigk is obviously capable of crafting epic compositions, as he showed in spots on 2006’s World Waits. With that voice, Enigk can’t help but sound epic, and Mind Idea certainly soars – albeit in a rather brief two minutes, 38 seconds. (Why do I get the feeling I’ll be dusting off my copy of How It Feels to Be Something On very soon?)

OK Bear is due out May 12 on his Lewis Hollow label.

• Jeremy Enigk | Mind Idea

I’m really excited about tonight’s show I kinda/sorta helped assemble along with the fine people at the Rogue. We’ve got Spirit Animal (the Gray Kid’s full-band venture) from LA; Asa Ransom from New York; and Saint Motel, also from LA.

Festivities should kick off around 9 p.m. and cover is $5, which will help all three bands fill their tanks on the way to SXSW.

Having only seen the Gray Kid solo (accompanied by beats via iPod), I’m not sure what to expect from the full-band experience. But here’s a live video of Spirit Animal playing the Gray Kid cut Lonely Love from …5, 6, 7, 8. Homeboy goes falsetto here:

Maybe if you ask nicely, they’ll drop Soothsayer, too.

You can pick up some new Gray Kid tunes on eMusic and follow him on Twitter.

Preview more music below from Asa Ransom and Saint Motel. Hope to see you out!

• Asa Ransom | The Luck of Stoney Bowes
• Saint Motel | Dear Dictator

If you plan on seeing St. Vincent at Modified on May 31, I’d advise you to get tickets ($12) early (they go on sale March 21 at TicketWeb).

When we saw her at the same venue in 2007, it was about as packed as I’ve ever seen Modified. And with a new album, Actor, due May 5 and her popularity continuing to soar, I’m guessing it will be no different this time around.

Full tour dates:

5/19/2009 Somerville, MA Somerville Theatre
5/20/2009 New York, NY Webster Hall
5/21/2009 Philadelphia, PA Unitarian Church
5/22/2009 Washington, DC Black Cat
5/24/2009 George, WA Sasquatch!
5/25/2009 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
5/27/2009 San Francisco, CA Bimbo’s 365 Club
5/28/2009 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
5/30/2009 San Diego, CA Casbah
5/31/2009 Phoenix, AZ Modified
6/2/2009 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
6/3/2009 Omaha, NE Slowdown Jr.
6/4/2009 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
6/5/2009 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
6/7/2009 Chicago, IL Epiphany
6/10/2009 Lexington, KY The Dame
6/11/2009 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge
6/12/2009 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo
6/16/2009 Birmingham, AL Bottle Tree
6/18/2009 Dallas, TX Granada Theatre
6/19/2009 Austin, TX Mohawk

Pitchfork featured the first single off Actors earlier this week. It’s called The Strangers.

• St. Vincent | The Strangers

It’s never too early to think about cramming into a small arts space in the middle of the Arizona summer and losing your body weight in sweat to see an indie band.

In this case, it will be well worth it. Handsome Furs, the side project of Wolf Parade’s Dan Boeckner, are booked for Chyro Arts in Scottsdale on June 12, another Stateside Presents production. Tickets ($13) for the all-ages show are available here beginning Saturday. The Cinnamon Band opens.

Face Control, released this past Tuesday, just got an 8.0 from Pitchfork.

• Handsome Furs | I’m Confused

If we’re lucky, the show will resemble this zombie-filled video for I’m Confused.

In more show news, Stateside is reporting sellouts for Cursive at the Rhythm Room on Sunday and Bonnie Prince Billy at Modified on April 3 at Modified.