Glasgow's Belle and Sebastian were a veritable oasis of twee amidst the dour mid-'90s days of grunge, immediately turning heads with their bright, slightly retro-feeling jangle-pop melodicism and the literate wit always in generous supply in Stuart Murdoch's songwriting. A bit precious, to be sure, but part of Belle and Sebastian's charm - and a major reason why the band's second album, If You're Feeling Sinister, demanded such attention upon delivery in 1996 - has always been its complete obliviousness to keeping up with what's "cool." 

First listen: