Art Brut Essentials

"Yes, this is my singing voice. It's not irony!" tunelessly shouts awkward-yet-commanding Art Brut frontman Eddie Argos on "Formed a Band." It's a moment that perfectly spotlights the awesomeness of these indie upstarts. Formed in London in 2003, Art Brut are best known for Argos's enthusiastic, sometimes embarrassing, uniformly hilarious commentary set to a thrilling, blazing, primitive punk racket. But whether it's walks of shame, grammar-school crushes or worship of The Replacements, it's his lyrical earnestness that makes Art Brut a cut above their peers.