This underrated US indie rock band was formed in 1985 when Gary Waleik (guitar/vocals) and Steve Michener (bass/vocals), who had both played in the early line-up of Boston, Massachusetts-based alternative rockers Volcano Suns, teamed up with Bill Goffrier (guitar/vocals) and Jeff Oliphant (drums). The mini-album Boo Boo (1987) was similar in style to early period R.E.M., all jerky post-punk guitars and idiosyncratic lyrics. The same year's full-length debut Heavens marked a move towards a more melodic college rock direction, with "Younger Bums" and "All Going Out Together" proving particularly effective. Craps (1988) and the major label release Slam (1990) were slicker still, with the latter introducing slightly awkward horns and string sections. Michener left following the release of Slam, and although the remaining trio carried on recording they eventually pulled the plug on the band in 1992. The quartet reunited in 2008 to play a number of live shows in support of a recently released compilation.

Listen to Big Dipper at Finetune.

• (2008)  SLAM

• She's Fetching
• Homosapien
• ALL THE WAY FROM MEMPHIS
• ANOTHER LIFE
• Big Dipper - Extraordinary Worm

• Soul Asylum
• Mudhoney
• Nirvana
• Pavement
• The Pixies
• Screaming Trees
• The Goo Goo Dolls
• Weezer
• BLINK 182
• Fall Out Boy
• Incubus
• Prince
• Sammy
• The Offspring
• Autechre
• Cadence Weapon
• Crystal Castles
• David Del Tredici
• Devotchka
• El Perro Del Mar