Emerging with the Dischord Records boom in the late '80s, Shudder to Think's sound is rooted in the Washington post-punk scene, though the band's cult following was built on more than their penchant for playing loud music. Risking alienation by moving to Epic Records, STT challenged the post-hardcore status quo with Pony Express Record in 1994, incorporating divergent styles like glam, jazz and folk to move them into experimental territory. Commercial success eluded STT, though their eclecticism drew critical acclaim, inspiring artists like Jeff Buckley and Pearl Jam along the way.