Mexico has been producing an increasing number of indie pop-rockers who have quirky style and offer up style and originality in heaps that's not being produced here in the upper 48. Between Julieta Venegas, Chetes last year and now Ximena Sariñana, they are a true tour de force on the scene, unbeknown to most indie fans who are too busy crying in their milk to the newest emo fare.

Ximena Sarinana debut release Mediocre sounds like a confluence of styles. Something along the lines of Nellie McKay meets countryman Julieta Venegas meets Sia. It's original, in other words. Very original. The jazz influences are hard to ignore throughout this release. She's got the chops to hang with the best of them and if you have any real desire to listen to music en espanol, you'll be hard pressed to find a better singer on the indie scene these days. Ximena has got chops, folks.

Ironically, some of her best songs are on YouTube when she's signing live backed by a live band. I love her quirky nature and can you see the influences of artists like Fiona Apple and Bjork embedded in her stage presence. Sariñana marches to the beat of her own drummer, to be sure.

On Mediocre, there is a mix of the jazz-influence indie downtempo on tracks like Un Error and Sintiendo Rara. The title track (Mediocre) is the most rocking track on the album, but no matter whether she's jamming or singing sweetly on my favourite track on the album No Vuelvo Más, she brings the same passion and energy to each song. She even ventures into pop on Vidas Paralelas

The production is adept and well balanced, giving this album a chance to bounce from genre to genre without missing a beat. It's one of those you can listen to straight through. It'll end the year as one of the best albums released this year. It's even-keeled, well presented and leaves you wanting more. The fact that there isn't anything else like it out there right now, makes it sound that much better.