My recommendations 2006:Let's Get Out of This Country by Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura: Let's Get Out of This Country
Merge 6/6/2006

Available on Emusic

Many critics take the lazy route when describing Camera Obscura by comparing them to Belle & Sebastian. However, their home town (Glasgow), dry wit and influenced culled from the early decades of modern pop are where the similarities end. Whereas Belle & Sebastian currently inhabit the period from 1970 to 1972, Camera Obscura roam the late 50s and early 60s. Though Tracyanne Campbell is their sole vocalist, their sound reminds me of the better female vocal groups of that period, particularly The Supremes, in the sense that melody and emotive delivery form the foundation of the songs. Campbell brings to mind, at times, Tracey Ullman's "They Don't Know," which is the acme of the 60s girl-group sound, despite having arrived twenty years to late and not being the work of a girl group. Let's Get Out of This Country is unassumingly lovely and sharp as a tack, just like Campbell.