The countdown to the end of 2014 begins this month, as bands decide whether this is their year or if 2015 is better suited for their album to come out. As last-minute decisions are made, here are four local albums that are out this week for you to enjoy. We'll start with the latest compilation from Swoody Records, the Utah-based indie label founded by Secret Abilities member Davin Abegg. Homemade Holidays is the label's second compilation album, and it features a plethora of musicians both local and national performing their own take on Christmas classics and a couple of original pieces. You can purchase it for whatever you'd like to pay on the label's Bandcamp page.


The only other album of note to be released online is from St. George trio Ex Era. The members of this alt/punk band have been busy making a name for themselves over the past year, primarily traveling around the state to play gigs beyond Southern Utah, while still becoming a staple at their hometown venue Jazzy's. The band released its three-song demo EP, The Vowels, late last week. You can download it for free from Bandcamp.


Last night, Velour played host to Tri-Polar Bear, who released its first full-length album. The band—comprised of Brad Warner, Chris Draudt and Blake Northrup—has been around since late 2011, and performs indie-folk/blues kind of music. The band released The Hibernation EP in 2012, which kind of went unnoticed, and the trio even buried it from the public eye for a moment as they took songs from that album to re-record for their full-length. You can purchase Tri-Polar Bear's self-titled album on Bandcamp for $7, which features more of a garage-rock vibe and shows real growth for the band when compared to their first release.


Moving onto current release shows, we have one tonight at Muse Music where we'll see the latest from Intra-Venus & The Cosmonauts. This is a five-piece band that fall under a few different genres, blending post-punk and "space glam" with a hint of psychedelia. There are moments when the band's music sounds like where Nirvana might have gone if Cobain had gotten into Joy Division instead of Black Flag. The group took to Kickstarter to fund their recording sessions, which resulted in their debut album, Forgotten Stars. You can pick up a physical copy tonight at Muse Music Cafe, where the band will be performing for their album-release show, which Magda-Vega will open. Tickets are $5, and doors open at 8 p.m.


Love music, head out, buy local.