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Formed in 1984, Dinosaur Jr carved a singular path through the latter half of the 1980s, issuing three highly influential albums in the process before finding a home with Sire Records, who issued a run of four excellent albums as the alternative American rock scene the band had long been part of exploded, dominate and then retreated during the 1990s. Critically lauded on release, 1991’s Green Mind took Dinosaur Jr’s reputation to a new level, aided by the singles ‘The Wagon’ and ‘Whatever’s Cool With Me’, and remains one of the band’s best collections, and a firm fan favourite. Next, 1992’s ‘Where You Been’ continued that global ascent, becoming Dinosaur Jr’s most successful album up to that point, reaching #50 in the US (where it sold over a quarter of a million copies), hitting #10 in the UK album charts, and spawning the hit single ‘Start Choppin’. 1994’s Without A Sound, the band’s 6th album, continued that growth in popularity and commercial achievement, reaching #44 in the US (their highest ever album placing there) and featuring the hit singles ‘Feel The Pain’ and ‘I Don’t Think So’. Such was their appeal that the they also reached the mainstream during this period, contributing ‘Blah’ to the hit US TV show Melrose Place before 1997’s ‘Hand It Over’ appeared at a time of declining international interest in American alternative rock. Nevertheless, the album received the widespread approval and appreciation amongst critics and reviewers, and was followed, unusually, by an EP of non-album songs recorded for the Matt Dillon movie Grace Of My Heart, which became the band’s last significant released before a lengthy hiatus. Collecting together all of these recordings, alongside B-sides, alternates and session tracks, Puke + Cry is a perfect accompaniment to the band’s original independent period, and captures Dinosaur Jr as best heard – loud, heavy and ready to explode.