The Legendary Marvin Pontiac's Greatest Hits, by John Lurie
Lurie usually does avant garde instrumental jazz. This album is an amazing expedition into the weird heart of rock/soul/pop, built around a fictional schitzophenic musician of the '70s. This sounds kitchy, but instead it's just rich, poignant, groovy, and funny. The surreal and silly lyrics blend with the eclectic and multitextured music to produce effects unlike anything else I've ever heard