Which indie rock band's 1996 album 'If You're Feeling Sinister' was a key indie pop release?

The indie rock band whose 1996 album If You’re Feeling Sinister became a key indie pop release was Belle and Sebastian.

If You’re Feeling Sinister was Belle and Sebastian’s second studio album, released in the United Kingdom on November 18, 1996. The Scottish band recorded it quickly in Glasgow, completing the album in about five days and mixing it in three. Its gentle melodies, chamber-pop arrangements, and literate character sketches gave it a distinctive place in the 1990s indie scene.

The album followed the band’s debut, Tigermilk, which had also appeared in 1996. Singer and songwriter Stuart Murdoch’s shy, detailed narratives contrasted sharply with the louder grunge and alternative rock that dominated much of the decade. That contrast helped If You’re Feeling Sinister gain a devoted audience and lasting critical reputation.

The record was released in the United States in 1997 by Matador Records. It later appeared on major critics’ lists, including Pitchfork’s ranking of the best albums of the 1990s. The Pastels, The Smiths, and The Magnetic Fields are related indie touchstones, but none made this particular album.