This Louisiana indie-rock band, formed in 1989 by singer, songwriter and guitarist Jeff Mangum, is the furthest thing from a typical band. For one, Mangum played most of the instruments himself. His credits on the debut LP (On Avery Island) include bells, xylophone and air organ. This instrument list suggests the band’s eclectic sound. Defining their genre difficult, as they combine folk, punk, psychedelic rock, blues, indie-rock and and a little carnival music to create a unique, instantly recognizable body of work.

The group’s most famous work is their second LP, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998). The searing concept album was met with mixed reviews upon release, but over time has become a classic of indie music. It has been picked by many publications as one of the best albums of the nineties, and is an influence to many bands, including Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes, and AJJ.