Belle & Sebastian

Formed in 1996, and hailing from Scotland, Belle & Sebastian are a musical collective with a penchant for ellipticism, declining to have their pictures on album covers or in the press, shying away from interviews, and never listing their individual names in album credits. This humility is in keeping with the gently bookish vibe the group evoke with their fragile, highly melodic pop tunes. Lead singer/songwriter Stuart Murdoch sounds heavily influenced by '60s popsters like the Beach Boys, Bee Gees, and Hollies. His lyrics, however, are filled with references to contemporary pop culture and a trenchant, acerbic wit that contrasts with the friendly warmth of the music.