Considered “one of the most out of step but prescient bands of its time",[1] MX-80's signature sound consisted of breakneck metallic guitar combined with atonal chord structure, cross-rhythmic percussion and dispassionate vocals.

Sophiea and Anderson, former members of Bloomington's Screaming Gypsy Bandits, shared an interest in modern classical composers as well as in avant rockers like Captain Beefheart and the Hampton Grease Band.

Rich Stim (vocals, guitar, and sax) and Dave Mahoney (drums), both formerly of Chinaboise, joined MX-80 in 1976 and Teare left the band to pursue a full-time art career.

Unable to obtain gigs in most local music venues, MX-80 performed a regular series of Sunday concerts at the Monroe County public library, tracks of which were later compiled on CD.

Ira Robbins, writing in Trouser Press, said "Out of the Tunnel may well be MX-80's high-tide-mark, featuring convoluted breakneck melodies, cross-fed musical genres and Anderson's white hot soloing."

In 1990, the band combined previously released TV and movie themes with "furiously thrashed original material,"[14] for the album, Das Love Boat (a&r/ENT), perhaps the only instrumental recording to get a Parental Advisory).

Forced Exposure called the album “both hilariously depressing and morosely upbeat … a masterwork that mixes Satan, Howard Hughes and current theories on brain transplants.

[18] In 2019, Steve Albini and long-time collaborator Peter Conheim each contributed essays to a major career overview of MX-80 Sound and its offshoots on the online "culture zine", by NWR.