The 30th anniversary edition of Perfect Teeth, the wonderful final album by American 90s indie rock greats Unrest, is out today, containing the album remastered plus a bonus album of EP tracks, singles and rarities, dubbed Extra Teeth.
Borrowing their name from a Henry Cow record, Unrest formed in 1983 at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia (just outside of Washington, D.C.). Beginning as an improv instrumental band, they were soon perfecting genre-hopping eclecticism and issuing recordings (often in cassette form) via frontman Mark Robinson‘s DIY label TeenBeat, as well as on notable labels such as 4AD, Caroline, and Matador.
Their last album, Perfect Teeth features the latter year classic line-up of founding members Mark Robinson and Phil Krauth plus bassist Bridget Cross (the original lead singer of Velocity Girl) and was recorded at Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, in early 1993, mere days after Nirvana completed In Utero in the very same space. Brian Paulson, who had produced Slint’s seminal Spiderland album, was asked to record the album and he chose the rural studio setting. Simon LeBon produced; he was recently awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
For this reissue, the album and bonus tracks have all been remastered – most from their original analogue tapes – and are sounding as great as ever. Working again with original designer Chris Bigg, he’s kept the original album cover as is (complete with Robert Mapplethorpe’s portrait of former Miaow singer/songwriter Cath Carroll) but has created an all-new back cover and inner-sleeve, as well as the Extra Teeth album, visually re-mixing the components of the original release. This one-time release sees the two albums bundled together with an exclusive 16-page art catalogue that includes liner notes by the band as well as 4AD founder Ivo Watts-Russell and Mr. Bigg.
UNREST – PERFECT TEETH 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
LP Out March 28 on 2xLP, LP, 2xCD, and Digital
Originally Released August 23, 1993
TRACKLISTING
Perfect Teeth [2024 Remastered – Disc I]
- Angel I’ll Walk You Home
- Cath Carroll
- So Sick
- Light Command
- Food and Drink Synthesizer
- Soon It Is Going to Rain
- Make Out Club
- Breather X.O.X.O.
- West Coast Love Affair
- Six Layer Cake
- Stylized Ampersand
Extra Teeth [Bonus Tracks and Rarities – Disc II]
- Vibe Out!
An abbreviated version was originally released as “Vibe Out (edit)” on the B-side of the Teenbeat 7” single (a free record given to attendees at Unrest concerts from Aug-Sept 1993 tour with Blast Off Country Style). Also included inside the Perfect Teeth 7” single boxed set (Teenbeat, 1993).
- So So Sick
Originally released on the B-Side of the Cath Carroll 7” Single (Teenbeat, 1993). Also included inside the Perfect Teeth 7” single boxed set (Teenbeat, 1993).
- Goodbye
Originally released on the 53-minute CCEP 12”/CD EP (Teenbeat / 4AD, 1993).
- Where Are All Those Puerto Rican Boys?
Originally released on the split 7” single with Stereolab, sold exclusively on Unrest and Stereolab’s Oct-Nov 1993 US tour (Teenbeat, 1993).
- Capezio Bowler
Included on the B-Side of the Cath Carroll 7” Single (Teenbeat, 1993). Also included inside the Perfect Teeth 7” single boxed set (Teenbeat, 1993).
- Hey Hey Halifax
Originally released on the A-Side of the Animal Park 7” Single (Teenbeat, 1993).
- Folklore
Originally released on the promo-only split 7” single with Heidi Berry (Soil Samples series from Warner/Reprise – US Only, 1993).
- Plastic Film
Included on the B-Side of the “Make Out Club” 7” single [Exclusive to Perfect Teeth 7” single boxed set (Teenbeat, 1993)].
- Isabel
A 1992 re-recording of the song from Imperial f.f.r.r. Originally released on the A-Side of the Isabel Bishop 7” single (Teenbeat, 1992). Later released on the Isabel Bishop EP 12”/CD (Teenbeat/4AD, 1993).
- Teenage Suicide
A 1992 re-recording of the song from Kustom Karnal Blackxploitation (Teenbeat/Caroline). Originally released on the Isabel Bishop EP 12”/CD (Teenbeat/4AD, 1993).
- Love to Know
Included on the A-Side of the Isabel Bishop 7” single (Teenbeat, 1992). Originally released on the Isabel Bishop EP 12”/CD (Teenbeat/4AD, 1993).
- Nation Writer
Originally released on the Isabel Bishop EP 12”/CD (Teenbeat/4AD, 1993). Also released on the Isabel Bishop EP CD, reprise in the USA (Teenbeat/4AD, 1993).
READ FEATURE IN THE WASHINGTON POST
UNREST BIO:
Unrest was a towering pillar of the American indie rock community throughout the early ’90s — from the tongue-in-cheek garage noise of their earliest efforts to the shimmering, manic pop thrills of their later, most enduring work, the band was a paragon of DIY virtue, perfecting a genre-hopping eclecticism and knowing, ironic lyrical outlook that virtually defined the sound and feel of college rock in the pre-grunge era. Mark Robinson, Tim Moran, and Phil Krauth formed Unrest while students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. The most popular line-up featured Bridget Cross with Mark and Phil.
PRAISE FOR UNREST:
“Still the sound of a band with seemingly inexhaustible potential, Perfect Teeth saw Unrest going out at their best.” – MOJO *****
“[Perfect Teeth is] an album of disciplined jangles that still feels both wild and meticulous.” – The Washington Post
“A pop enigma, pristine and disturbing.” – New York Times
“Unrest’s final and best album is both jangling and lush, and covers many styles of pop music […] Unrest’s experimental and pop leanings come together with terrific success on Perfect Teeth, making it a high point in the band’s too-brief recording career. – Heather Phares, – AllMusic
“In this world, there exist precious few bands, past or present, that are as fearlessly experimental as Unrest” – Pitchfork
“Deceptively rich pop that’s often as winkingly self-aware as moments of John Barth’s Lost in the Funhouse or Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless; it’s educated and dissatisfied yet retains a sense of humour” – Tiny Mix Tapes
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