Rafi's Revenge

Combining hypercharged political rants with heavyweight breakbeats and wondrous Indian instrumentation, Asian Dub Foundation are socially aware commentators who simply defy categorization. Taking a cue from maverick groups like Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine, they match jackhammer rhythms and furious rapping on "Dub Mentality," while "Buzzin'" employs elements as disparate as sitars, dub bass lines, and indie-rock-guitar distortion. Rafi's Revenge landed the coveted Mercury Music Prize in the U.K. for being one of the best releases of 1998. It's a fitting honor. --Aidin Vaziri