MUSIC: Lodger - [2004] Hi-Fi High Lights Down Low [CD]

Lodger's 2004 debut album, Hi-Fi High Lights Down Low, was originally released exclusively in Finland to much critical acclaim. Cynical and nihilistic lyrics abound, with songs that condemn the drudgery of average individual's life, Western society's superficiality, overeager sexual consumption, blatant drug abuse, overzealous gambling, and the general truth concerning the conquest for "the American dream." The result was an album unmatched in originality, musicality, and lyrical content. After gaining a cult-following subsequently after the release of two self-produced album promoting music videos, the group remastered and reissued their debut album in 2005 to keep up with worldwide demand. The re-release featured a slightly different track list, dropping two original album songs in favor of adding a popular single released post-2004 debut.

MUSIC: Villagers - [2010] Becoming A Jackal [CD/LP]

Villagers, a project headed and fronted by Irishman Conor O'Brien, culminated following the disintegration of his previous band The Immediate. O'Brien's sharp, definitive voice coupled with his uncommon playing style and eerie, heartfelt lyrics make their Debut album a hit, enough to earning them multiple awards and a nominations for the Mercury Prize. Hard to label as just alternative indie folk, as the terms tend to be generic. Dark and heavy lyrics throughout make this album beautifully depressing.

MUSIC: Xploding Plastix - [2001] Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents [CD/LP]

The debut by the Norwegian duo is a mish-mash: smooth organic sax glides above rocky tumbling drums with digital snippets sprinkled all about. Hints of big beat, electro, and jazz (often labeled as nu-jazz) abound, Xploding Plastix has a sound entirely their own. Complete with rapid highs, complimentary, chill lows, and everything in between.