You know the cliche about the Velvet Underground, and I guess The Fall, - that despite selling very little, whoever heard them went on to form a band? are there any bands around today, or from the recent past, who fall into that category? Is it even possible anymore, has the internet and the rising popularity of guitar music mean that every band gets snaffled up by the industry before they can reach that level?

My nominations would be Neutral Milk Hotel, Battles, maybe Belle and Sebastian before they won the Brit, Jawbreaker perhaps? Any others?