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Even in the MP3 age, there are CDs worth searching out–that require the search. “O.O.P., We Did It Again” is dedicated to great albums that are criminally out of print–and that aren’t necessarily likely to become available anytime soon.
The album: Perfect Teeth (1993), the final album from Washington, D.C. trio Unrest.
Classic material: This album from the trio of Mark Robinson, Bridget Cross, and Phil Krauth. isn’t just great “put it in the tape deck and drive” material, it also inspired some Internet history, as one of its songs christened a pioneer in indie-kid social-networking. And Teeth, while not as critically adored as its predecessor Imperial f.f.r.r., is a pretty wonderful pop record, from the puppy-lovestruck “So Sick” (given the in-store acoustic treatment in the above clip) to the breezily seductive “West Coast Love Affair.”
Highlights: The rave-up “Cath Carroll,” an ode to the Miaow singer; the glorious “Make Out Club,” which has a perfect singsong chorus. Really, the whole album is a winner, and it’s actually nosed out Imperial as my preferred Unrest long-player in the past few years.
Why it’s out of print: Teeth was a co-release between 4AD, Warner, and the Robinson-led label Teen Beat; CD/digital rights are currently owned by 4AD/Beggars Banquet, who are, for some reason, keeping it in hiding.
Chances it will return to print: On CD, who knows, but a vinyl reissue may be in the cards sometime soon–Teen Beat owns the vinyl rights to Teeth in the U.S., and the label actually released a six-7″ version of the album featuring bonus tracks and remixes as a bonus-filled alternate package back in 1993.
Cost for a used copy: Amazon has used CDs available for $6.79 and up; there are also used cassette copies of the album that can be yours for $6.95 plus shipping.
Unrest [MySpace]
A friggin’ classic.
Thank you Cate (if you’re reading this, which you probably will since I’ll forward you the link), for introducing me to it on our carpool commutes (it really IS “put it in the deck and drive material”). I’ve got it on cassette, and through some bad planning, two copies on CD. But I don’t care, I wish I had 10 copies.
Introduced me, belatedly, to the glory of Unrest. But better late than never.
I’ll meet you in LA!
I saw them twice, second time on their final tour for this very album. Coheadliners — Stereolab, first tour in America for Transient…. One hell of a show.
You forgot to mention the Simon Le Bon production.
Yes, go and look and the credits.
Incidentally, I totally miss my Unrest “Make Coffee Club” mug, destroyed back in 2001. Never found a place that sold a replacement. :(
DDF: as is said on that Myspace site, the Le Bon credit is a joke. I’ve read a couple of interviews with Robinson where he talks about it.
Make Out Club is one of the world’s perfect songs. They were also fabulous live.
@Ned Raggett: Oh I know its status as a joke, but as far as I’m concerned, Simon Le Bon still produced it, if only perhaps in some great cosmic sense.
isobel bishop ep *swoon
I always wished that they would never break up, but their (bridgit, phil & mark) subsequent post-Unrest work shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Particularly the sole Air Miami lp, Panax (one single + one compilation song strong!), Phil & Mark’s solo records, and, of course, Flin Flon.
Chalk it up to location, or too many copycats, or even to guitar pop falling out of favor, but their demise left a gaping hole in my enthusiasm for indie pop records ever since.
Incredible record by an incredible band. Sadly, I had only seen them once, the side stage at Lolla ‘93 or ‘95, however it was wonderful.
There’s also a (single) copy of the 6×7″ for sale at 3 beads of sweat, which I’m mostly posting about in the hopes that someone else snatches it up before I spend $50 I don’t have.