Wet City Rockers (Eros, 2005)

In case you're wondering, Wet City is Seattle, Washington (although London may beg to differ) -- not to be confused with Miami, which is, of course, Humid City.  Wet City Rockers is an up-and-coming group straight out of the Northwestern US with a low-key, often brooding sound that matches the damp weather.  They manage to meld a throwback roots style -- including the lost art of roots harmony -- with vivid lyrical portraits of modern life (e.g., spoiled mallrats in "Plastic Girl"), skewed with a distinctive, at times darkly humorous viewpoint (As on "Fight Tonight": "Met a girl, she was a cutie; / Had big tits but lacking booty," before painting a surreal portrait of a [presumably metaphorical] boxing match.).  Lead singer Micah Averiett's vocals have an appealing tone, like a mix of Marley and Shinehead (when he sings) with the sort of melancholy that, when blended with the meditative musical backing, buoys this into becoming one of the most hypnotic reggae albums you'll hear all year.  There may be only 9 tracks on Wet City Rockers, but I'd take 9 killers over 9 killers mixed with 9 fillers any day.  Check 'em out at wetcityrockers.com.