Over finely crafted Nintendo synth-pop (before smooth indie pop was cool), the Wizards of Boat created tongue-in-cheek—or downright nuts— songs about dinosaurs, dirt bikes and “nice things” that stood out in Lafayette’s indie rock scene circa 2005—a scene that took itself very seriously. It also didn’t hurt that the band was a bizarre project—wearing featureless black masks, decked out in thrift store suits, claiming to be sent back from the future to prevent it from happening via song.

Now, years after dissolving the band, they are offering a digital download album of unreleased and alternate versions of their material plus creations from their song-a-week project (on “The Last Song” this endeavor that ends roughly: “I’m so fucking tired of writing songs/I thought we could do this but I was wrong”).

All bizarreness aside, WOB had chops: one of the lead Twins (Twin A or Twin B, who knows) was rumored to sing in a church choir, and top Lafayette scenesters took turns hiding under the masks of their back-up. This musicianship is clear in this 37-cut release (available for download for $1).

Ever unpredictable, WOB offers what they call wedding versions of their songs. Taking “Wild Goose Inn” and giving it a “How Beautiful” treatment. Although amusing, it does offer a caveat: “The Cool Guy” (about a dirt bike) could have been the standout track here, but the version is a bit too pretty. As far as covers go, their ’80s synth dance version of Hall and Oates’ “Maneater” is a classic.

In the midst of the seeming randomness and off-the-wall humor, there are some choice lyrical nuggets, such as “The only demons in this town are the assholes who try to create them.”

Not overly ridiculous, but just enough, Heavy Handed Nonsense encapsulates a band that married zany to absurd without forgetting to be listenable.