Benji Hughes

Singer-songwriter Hughes, a bearded L.A. weirdo who wears a cape, released his debut collection of utterly uncommon heartbreakers back in 2008. Now, after 8 years honing his earworm abilities working on commercial jingles, he returns with a followup, Songs in the Key of Animals, which boasts catchy hooks, sunny haze and elegant piano playing beneath a characteristically dry vocal delivery.