Massachusetts college rockers Dumptruck formed in the early 1980s around the partnership of singing guitarists Seth Tiven and Kirk Swan. Inspired by the burgeoning indie rock scenes of Athens, Georgia and Hoboken, New Jersey, Dumptruck specialized in a moody take on jangly guitar pop. After two albums, 1983's D IS FOR DUMPTRUCK and 1986's POSITIVELY DUMPTRUCK, Swan left the band. His replacement was Kevin Salem, who debuted on 1987's FOR THE COUNTRY, a more commercially-oriented album produced by U.K. hitmaker Hugh Jones. The band quietly dissolved following this release, with Salem becoming a well-regarded solo artist and producer.