Hazeldine - How Bees Fly (1997)

Arguably the best of all the alt-country album efforts, this is both a stunning and surprising debut -- how an unknown band from nowhere could arrive with such an original sound and vision startled listeners. The songs have hooks, the guitars scrape and spark, and Lamm and Barton possess equally distinctive voices while harmonizing effortlessly. And when Barton demands that her man rush home "and f*ck me like Batman," you know you're in for revelations.