Thin White Rope was a rock band formed in Davis, California in 1984. Their music, often categorized as belonging to the paisley underground scene along with bands like The Dream Syndicate and Green on Red, was known for its intense guitar work, stark desert imagery, and the distinctive baritone of lead singer Guy Kyser. Their sound also drew from a multitude of influences, including punk, blues, country, and psychedelia, which they combined to create a unique brand of guitar-centered rock that defied easy classification.

Over their critically acclaimed but commercially under-the-radar career, Thin White Rope released a series of albums and EPs that showcased their evolving sound. Starting with their debut album "Exploring the Axis" in 1985 and culminating with their final studio album, "The Ruby Sea," in 1991, before disbanding in 1992. The band's music was marked by a relentless intensity and a sense of expansive, desolate spaces, qualities captured in later compilations like "Spoor" and the live recordings in "The One That Got Away." Although Thin White Rope disbanded after a short but productive career, their music continues to be celebrated for its innovative approach to alternative rock and its impact on the indie music scene of the 1980s and early '90s.