Scud Mountain Boys

The Scud Mountain Boys were a pivotal alt-country outfit from Massachusetts that helped define the "slowcore" Americana sound of the 1990s. Formed in Northampton by singer-songwriter Joe Pernice (later of The Pernice Brothers) with bassist Stephen Desaulniers and multi-instrumentalist Bruce Tull, the trio mixed haunting harmonies, dark humor, and stripped-down arrangements that felt like campfire confessions. Their 1995 debut *Pine Box* and acclaimed 1996 follow-up *Massachusetts* – referenced in your list – became cult classics, blending country twang with indie rock melancholy. Though they disbanded in 1997, their influence echoes through modern folk and Americana circles. The releases *The Early Year* and *Do You Love the Sun* likely refer to archival material or later compilations celebrating their brief but impactful run.