Merge

Merge formed in 1997 with Mark Arm on vocals and guitar, Steve Turner on bass, Ben Shepherd on drums, and Susan Silver on guitar. Arm and Shepherd had been in Mudhoney, while Silver and Turner came from experimental folk backgrounds. Their first album, simply called 'Merge,' came out in 1998.

They put out five albums total, including 'A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular' in 2000 and 'The Password' in 2001. The title track from that 2001 record became a cult favorite. Other songs people remember include 'Asleep,' 'Monster,' 'Sanctify,' and 'Skins.'

Arm's political views sometimes drew criticism, and the band's sound didn't fit neatly into what was commercially popular at the time. They kept working outside mainstream expectations.