David Thomas

In this topsy-turvy world, there's something comforting about consistency. And rest assured, David Thomas has not mellowed, softened or in any way "lost it." Sure, the leader of seminal Experimental band Pere Ubu has seen many years go by since the releases of the astounding and daringly original The Modern Dance and Dub Housing, but the boundary-pushing ethos still burns strong. Ubu fans won't be disappointed by any of his solo material; there are plenty of creepy melodies, unusual arrangements and instrumentation, and the singer's own haunting, wildly tossed-about baritone. Moments of Erewhon (1996) sound like they were written for a decadent journey aboard a pirate ship (think Tom Waits interpreting Iggy Pop, and you're getting close) while Mirror Man (1999) is a dreamy collage of voices, simple melodies and wanton noise. The guy also knows how to round up a top-notch group of players, including the honey-voiced Linda Thompson. Quite simply, Thomas is one of the most influential and significant players on the independent music scene.