Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies (2006)

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Mixing obtuse lyricism with art rock's ostentatious tendencies, Dan Bejar creates sweeping baroque pop perfect for urban neo-transcendentalists. It is difficult to draw a distinction between what is frivolous, nonsensical musical eccentricity and what is pure genius on Destroyer's Rubies--it is akin to actually grasping what upset folks about Dylan going electric; or maybe it is like being in the front row at a live performance of Hunky Dory by Bowie circa 1971. Maybe it is like none of these, but it is a gorgeous album brimming with ornate production, cryptic lyrical poetry, and tons of emotive, touchy-feely singer-songwriter moments perfect for moments steeped in mild depression.

Wes Montgomery - Boss Guitar (1963)

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Jazz guitar great Wes Montgomery was nearing the end of his stay at Riverside Records when he recorded this fantastic album. To many diehard fans, this one may not reside on the Montgomery essentials list, but nevertheless, Boss Guitar perfectly summarizes the guitar legend's signature earthy blues tone. The album's opener, "Besame Mucho," spotlights Montgomery's nimble, folk-inspired thumb-picking, his multi-octave soloing, and his ability to churn out a serious head-nodding classic bop. The remaining tracks continue to astound the ear with sophisticated, warm, and well-rounded jazz guitar.

Immortal Technique - Revolutionary, Vol. 2 (2003)

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New York City-based Immortal Technique is the most dangerous lyrical MC stalking the halls of contemporary, corporate-funded hip-hop culture. A fierce type, whose orbit takes him well outside the realm of more conventional conscious rappers, Immortal Technique sharpened his battle skills and expanded his knowledge base while imprisoned for aggravated assault. His complex rhymes construct labyrinthine corridors of so-called conspiracy theories, into which he aggressively draws his listeners. The reconstruction of Solomon's Temple by the descendents of the Knights Templar, Masonic rituals, government-sponsored biochemical warfare, the genocidal effects of globalization, the corporate-funded media, and the CIA/Wall Street-backed production and distribution of narcotics... These are just samples of the topics Immortal Technique tackles effortlessly.

Tom Waits - Real Gone (2004)

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If you sit back and consider the ragged trash-can funk of Real Gone, it becomes clear that Tom Waits has come a long way from his barroom balladeer beginnings. Sounding like a blown-out vinyl dub plate of a third-generation cassette copy, Real Gone crackles and pops with imaginative recording techniques; imagine the Mad Hatter from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland sitting in with Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem (from The Muppet Show). Please do not consider this album to be novelty or cartoonish, though, as it is a revolutionary aural document that deserves a lifetime of repeated listens.