The Mutton Birds was formed in 1991 in New Zealand, by Don McGlashan, formerly of Blam Blam Blam (guitar, vocals and euphonium), Ross Burge (drums), David Long (guitar) and Alan Gregg (bass guitar). They scored several hits in New Zealand, including "Nature", "Dominion Road", "Your Window", "Anchor Me" and Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" which was featured in the movie "The Frighteners" directed by Peter Jackson.

Their music is clearly influenced by bands like R.E.M., although their sound is distinctively brighter and janglier, featuring contrast-filled intrumentation and catchy and crisp hooks and unusual chord progressions, giving vivid life to Don McGlashan's lyrics, dominated by poetic imagery and everyday themes.

Their debut The Mutton Birds (1992) was followed by Salty in 1993. In 1995 a compilation of their two first albums, titled Nature, was released outside of New Zealand. Also around this time the first two albums were re-released within NZ as a box set entitled Box of Birds. After moving to England the band released Envy of Angels in 1996, and it is perhaps their strongest album in terms of songwriting and arrangements. After a limited-edition collection of singles and B-sides (Too Hard Basket) and a live album (Angle of Entry), they released Rain, Steam and Speed in 1999.

Flock - The Best of The Mutton Birds was later released in New Zealand and Australia.
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