A band that takes its name from a French children's television series about a boy and his dog would almost have to be precious, and to be certain, Belle & Sebastian are precious. But precious can be a damning word, and Belle & Sebastian don't have the negative qualities that the word connotes -- they are private but not insular, pretty... [+] Read More

Yes No

Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Camera Obscura formed in 1996, when Tracyanne Campbell (vocals), John Henderson (percussion, vocals), Gavin Dunbar (bass), and guitarist David started playing together. They went on to release a number of singles, one of them including the contribution of Richard Colburn, Belle & Sebastian's drummer. Three years... [+] Read More

Yes No

Formed in 1992, pop combo Papas Fritas began as a power trio when two high-school friends from Delaware, guitarist Tony Goddess and drummer Shivika Asthana, met up with bassist Keith Gendel while attending Tufts University in Massachusetts. The three recorded and released four-track albums for fun and performed at parties on and around campus,... [+] Read More

Yes No

The Boy Least Likely To is a duo made up of singer/lyricist Jof Owen and Pete Hobbs. Owen writes the words and sings them; Hobbs writes the music and plays it. Formed in the English countryside (specifically Wendover), the Boy Least Likely To is influenced by country storytellers like Marty Robbins, C-86 indie pop groups like the Pastels and... [+] Read More

Yes No

The Stockholm-based pop collective the Concretes were formed in 1995 by vocalist Victoria Bergsman, guitarist Maria Eriksson, and drummer Lisa Milberg; over the course of three years, they added guitarist Markus, bassist Martin Hansson, organist Per Nystrom, trumpeter Ulrik Karlsson, and vocalist/harmonica player Malte. Malte and Nystrom were... [+] Read More

Yes No

Torch-bearers of the classic indie-pop sound, the Orange Peels were led by Bay Area-based singer/songwriter Allen Clapp; the band also included lead guitarist Larry Winther (a former member of the Mummies), bassist Jill Pries, and ex-Cerebral Corps drummer Bob Vickers. Originally dubbed Allen Clapp and His Orchestra, the group debuted with a... [+] Read More

Yes No

Although virtually unknown outside of indie rock circles, the Pastels were one of the most inspirational and enduring groups of their era, spearheading a movement towards a renewed sense of wistful musical primitivism and willful naivete known variously as "shambling" and "anorak pop; " in addition, their influence helped bring international... [+] Read More

Yes No

Led by singer/songwriter/pianist Sara Lapsley, Vancouver Nights' folky indie pop marks a departure from the riot-grrrl punk of Lapsley's previous band, Kreviss. Formed, logically enough, in Vancouver, the band also includes guitarist Dan Bejar (also of Destroyer), bassist Steve Ballough, and drummer Sean Mrazek. Their self-titled debut was... [+] Read More

Yes No