Who: Benji Hughes
Seven-word description: Detailed, witty narratives delivered over psychedelic electropop.
Should appeal to fans of: Beck, Flaming Lips, people with beer guts.
Isn't he on the same label as alt-country acts like Dwight Yoakam and Steve Earle? Yes, but there's nothing twangy about Hughes. What he does share with his labelmates, though, is a gift for lyric writing.
Breakout CD: A Love Extreme
Release date/label: July 22/New West
Listen to the track "You Stood Me Up."
This article appears in Jul 16-22, 2008.