[2] The band was noted for their marriage of indie pop songwriting and vocal harmonies to the "loud-soft" dynamics of grunge and alternative rock.

They were also noted for their proficient and disciplined musicianship and for their credo of "meat, sports, and rock", none of which had much currency in the early 1990s American indie scene.

[2] The band was named after the Mission of Burma album Vs.[3] Versus has counted at least two and sometimes three of the Filipino-American Baluyut brothers as members throughout its existence.

The Baluyut brothers grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and formed the band with friends after Richard moved to New York for college.

The band signed to TeenBeat Records and released their debut album The Stars Are Insane in 1994, originally titled Meat, Sports and Rock.

[5] Versus also played Lollapalooza's second stage in August 1995 alongside acts including Hum, Beck, Blonde Redhead and the Roots.

The group began recording a new album that month, and started performing as a four-piece band with Margaret White on violin and keyboards.

[17] The band were chosen by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that he curated in 2012 in Minehead, England.