Australian indie rock quartet Thirsty Merc formed in Sydney in 2002--singer/guitarist Rai Thistlethwayte, lead guitarist Matt Baker, ba**ist Phil Stack and drummer Karl Robertson co-founded the original lineup, which in 2003 issued its debut EP First Work, notching the hit singles "Wasting Time" and "Emancipate Myself." Thirsty Merc's self-titled full-length followed in 2004, cracking the Top 20 on the Aussie LP charts and generating the hits "My Completeness" and "Someday, Someway"--despite the record's success, Baker resigned from the lineup soon after its release and the remaining trio recruited ex-Midnight Swim guitarist Sean Carey as his replacement. In mid-2005 Thirsty Merc issued an expanded edition of the album, scoring a minor hit with the additional cut "When the Weather Is Fine." ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide