Spain

Led by Josh Haden, son of acclaimed jazz bassist Charlie Haden, Spain swayed its way into the underground with this 1995 debut. Imagine late night cabaret music -- smoky vocals, hesitant bass lines and palpitating drums -- for the mid-'90s grunge set. Slow enough to nod off to but electric with sensual tension and gruff with Haden's low-key vocals, this stuff hits like scotch on the rocks, stark and narcotic and edgy all at once. Occasional horns add to the funereal tone, but this is music made for drinking or dreaming to. "Dreaming of Love," in fact, is a great tune.