early on in the band's career, they competed in a battle of the bands contest against muse. garnering early interest by way of indie singles "green green grass of home" (an nme "single of the week", and a song about marijuana rather than a cover of the song made famous by tom jones) (blue dog/v2) and "thrown like a stone" (shifty disco) (which was voted number nine in john peel's festive fifty in 1999), they gained support from bbc radio 1 djs steve lamacq and john peel, recording three sessions for the peel, and secured an appearance at industry showcase "in the city". a publishing deal from townhill music (sony) swiftly followed, and the band were heralded as the best new band in wales, and by alex james of blur as the best new band in britain.alex james, artist damien hirst and the late joe strummer preferred murry the hump over coldplay when they saw both acts perform at a record label showcase gig. in a 2000 review of the "silver suit" single in the "nme", the band were described as "the proper indie; winsome, charmsome, delicate, funny and toe-tappin' trebor fizz-pop fab".