Pine Box and
Dance the Night Away were
the Scud Mountain Boys' first two albums. Released on the tiny indie Chunk Records, neither album received wide distribution, so when the group signed with Sub Pop in 1997, the label negotiated for the release of the double-disc set
The Early Year, which featured both albums plus a handful of rarities. While
Massachusetts remains their most accomplished album, the music on
The Early Year isn't much weaker, and most alt-country fans will find the collection necessary listening.