The Manchester quintet Alfie came about in the late '90s. The band caught a break with their very first show when the U.K. publication NME was doing an article on several different British music scenes, and happened to come upon the new group, reviewing the show and printing a picture of the band. The band soon befriended Damon Gough (better-known as Badly Drawn Boy), who promptly signed the group to his newly founded Twisted Nerve label. Shortly after, Alfie issued several singles/EPs: the Alfie EP, Bookends, and Montevideo, while their full-length debut, If You Happy with You Need Do Nothing, saw the light of day in 2001. ~ Greg Prato