One of the great lost bands of the late-80s/early-90s, Big Dipper, will return in a big way in '08. The folks at Merge Records announced today that they'll reissue much of the band's back catalog, including a previously unreleased album. That's big news 'round these parts, where Big Dipper was a major part of the formative experience. The Boston poppers were among the first acts I saw after moving to Iowa City for college back in the late 80s, and I instantly fell in love with the band's quirkly, hard-charging, hook-filled music.

Merge plans to issue Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology on March 18. The 3-CD set includes the Boo Boo EP and the LPs Heavens and Craps. In addition, it will include nine bonus tracks and the previously unissued CD Very Loud Array. That, it would seem, would have been the band's follow-up to the major-label disappointment Slam. The band issued one 7" single after that in 1992 and then disappeared.

For those unfamiliar with the band, it was formed in 1985 by guitarist Gary Waleik and bassist Steve Michener from the Volcano Suns, drummer Jeff Oliphant and songwriter/guitarist Bill Goffrier late of the Embarrassment.

Apparently, WFMU DJ Tom Sharpling (one half of the moderately funny duo Sharpling and Wurster with Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster) worked to get the band back together in 2004, inspired by VH1's "Bands Reunited" show. I'll forgive him his over-reaching attempts at humor if his efforts led to this collection and the rumored handful of shows that will follow.

Labels: music