I was introduced to Belle and Sebastian through this song. I had written a song with a jaunty pace, a guitar pattern ending on a nice little syncopated up strum, and a melody featuring rising major scales. I showed it to a friend who heard more music than I did, and he said it reminded him of Belle and Sebastian. I was a little crushed, but sure enough, we listened to "If You're Feeling Sinister" and there it was. They even shared lyrical obsessions with sin.

That's not to say there's any question which song is greater.

First, the lyrics are stellar: Clear, concrete in their narration, obviously imaginative and unique, nuanced in treatment of the subject, technically inventive in their sounds.

The many musicians of the band each make their mark. The pedal steel especially shows what grace the instrument can bring to a song.

The song builds through long verses into pre-choruses that spill out into awesome choruses that almost commemorate the verses more than serve as their climaxes.

This song is over 20 years old....