In this installment of our music recommendation series, our music writers suggest tracks by Halloween Town, Big Star, and Television.

Jarret Keene
Halloween Town, "A Faster Bullet"

Las Vegas native Ryan Pardey has done it all—studied English literature, tended dive bars, played pro-level poker, and tour-managed the most commercial of Vegas rock bands, The Killers. Now he's writing and recording his own music under the name Halloween Town and drawn from all these experiences to create one hell of an album, Zafra Ct., the name of the street where he grew up. It's a flat-out masterpiece in the "intelligent yet accessible indie-rock" category. Here's a track from it, and if you dig it and are a fan of confessional yet infectious bands like Pedro the Lion or The National or The Hold Steady, you may want to download the whole thing at www.ryanpardey.com. Thank me later.

Michael Petitti
Big Star, "Take Care"

"This holiday season, be good to each other."

Stephen Seigel
Television, "Marquee Moon"

Yeah, I know the protocol on these postings is short and catchy. Make an exception for this one. It's over 10 minutes long, but it will transport you to places you've never been.The instrumental excursion is so good it makes you forget the song. And then, when the song comes back ... sweet Jesus. Also? Quite possibly the greatest guitar interplay in the history of recorded music. So it's got that going for it.