Repetition (Unwound album)

Last updated
Repetition
Unwound - Repetition.jpg
Studio album by
Unwound
ReleasedApril 9, 1996
RecordedJanuary 1996
StudioJohn and Stu's (Seattle, Washington)
Genre
Length44:56
Label Kill Rock Stars
Producer
Unwound chronology
Unwound
(1995)		Repetition
(1996)		 Challenge for a Civilized Society
(1998)

Repetition is the fifth studio album by the American post-hardcore band Unwound, released on April 9, 1996 by Kill Rock Stars. It was recorded in January 1996 at John and Stu's Place in Seattle, Washington and produced by Steve Fisk and John Goodmanson. The album has been hailed as a masterpiece among those in the punk rock scene. [3]

Contents

Recording and release

Repetition was recorded in January 1996 at John and Stu's Place in Seattle, Washington and produced by Steve Fisk and John Goodmanson. [5] The band sought a more "studio-oriented" approach than their previous albums and experimented new sounds with keyboards. [6] The word "Repetition" was chosen as the album's title because, according to singer and guitarist Justin Trosper, "I like that word. It sort of describes a lot of things. People have said that our music is repetitious. So I thought it would be funny if we called out record that. Plus it's our fifth record, so we're like repeating things over and over". [6] Repetition was released on April 9, 1996 by the independent record label Kill Rock Stars, which also released the band's previous three albums. [7] The song "Corpse Pose" was released as a single on March 11, 1996, featuring an outtake, "Everything Is Weird", as the B-side. [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [8]
The Boston Phoenix Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]

The album received positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic reviewer Blake Butler described Repetition as the band's "most sleek and mood-encompassing album." [8] Megan McCarthy of CMJ New Music Monthly opined that the album features "a sound that is polished and paced, tethering its bass-driven ferocity to tingling melodies", but also admitted that some songs such as "Fingernails on a Chalkboard" are too repetitious. [9] Matt Ashare, writing for Boston Phoenix , stated that Repetition "mixes in a dub-heavy instrumental reminiscent of early PiL ('Sensible'), a high-pitched feedback frenzy buoyed by a stark funk backbeat ('Fingernails on a Chalkboard') that recalls Gang of Four's 'Anthrax', elegant Tom Verlaine-style guitar lines, and skronk punctuated by synth noise that harks back to the heyday of Captain Beefheart ('Corpse Pose'). The likes of Rancid and Green Day pale in comparison to the challenge of Unwound: this is the real punk rock." [2]

Track listing

All music is composed by Unwound

No.TitleLength
1."Message Received"3:05
2."Corpse Pose"3:05
3."Unauthorized Autobiography"2:47
4."Lowest Common Denominator"4:31
5."Sensible"3:00
6."Lady Elect"5:37
7."Fingernails on a Chalkboard"4:56
8."Murder Movies"1:48
9."Next Exit"4:30
10."Devoid"3:13
11."Go to Dallas and Take a Left"4:13
12."For Your Entertainment"5:39
Total length:44:56

Personnel

Unwound

Technical

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Fisk</span> American record producer

Steve Fisk is an American, Washington-based audio engineer, record producer and musician. As a musician, he has been in bands such as the instrumental alternative/indie rock band Pell Mell and the electronic band Pigeonhed. He has long been associated with the Pacific Northwest music scenes, including grunge and the Sub Pop indie record label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Olympia, Washington</span>

The port city of Olympia, Washington, has been a center of post-hardcore, anti-folk, and other youth-oriented musical genres since the late 1970s. Before this period, Olympia's The Fleetwoods had several Billboard chart successes between 1959 and 1963. Olympia saw a rise in feminism in the music industry, where artists commonly addressed rape, domestic abuse, sexuality, racism, patriarchy, classism, anarchism, and female empowerment in their songs. It was a center for the riot grrrl movement of the early 1990s, which featured Bikini Kill and Bratmobile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unwound</span> American post-hardcore band

Unwound is an American post-hardcore band. Formed in 1988 in Tumwater and Olympia, Washington, the band currently consists of Justin Trosper, Jared Warren, Sara Lund (drums), and Scott Seckington (guitar).

<i>Fake Train</i> 1993 studio album by Unwound

Fake Train is the debut studio album by the American post-hardcore band Unwound, released on July 7, 1993 by Kill Rock Stars.

<i>One Beat</i> 2002 studio album by Sleater-Kinney

One Beat is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Sleater-Kinney, released on August 20, 2002, by Kill Rock Stars. It was produced by John Goodmanson and recorded between March and April 2002 at Jackpot! Studio in Portland, Oregon. The album peaked at number 107 in the United States on the Billboard 200 and entered the Billboard Top Independent Albums at number five. One Beat was very well received by critics. Praise centered on its cathartic musical delivery and progressive politics.

<i>Dig Me Out</i> 1997 studio album by Sleater-Kinney

Dig Me Out is the third studio album by the American rock band Sleater-Kinney, released on April 8, 1997, by Kill Rock Stars. The album was produced by John Goodmanson and recorded from December 1996 to January 1997 at John and Stu's Place in Seattle, Washington. Dig Me Out marked the debut of Janet Weiss, who would become the band's longest-serving drummer. The music on the record was influenced by traditional rock and roll bands, while the lyrics deal with issues of heartbreak and survival. The album cover is an homage to the Kinks' 1965 album The Kink Kontroversy.

<i>The Hot Rock</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Sleater-Kinney

The Hot Rock is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Sleater-Kinney, released on February 23, 1999, by Kill Rock Stars. It was produced by Roger Moutenot and recorded at the Avast! recording studio in Seattle, Washington in July 1998. The Hot Rock marks a considerable change in the band's sound, veering into a more relaxed and gloomy direction than the raucous punk rock style of its predecessors. The lyrical themes of the album explore issues of failed relationships and personal uncertainty.

<i>Reject All American</i> 1996 studio album by Bikini Kill

Reject All American is the second studio album by the American punk rock band Bikini Kill, released in 1996 by Kill Rock Stars.

Shoplifting was an American punk band, formed in 2002 in Seattle, Washington.

<i>Calculated</i> 1994 studio album by Heavens to Betsy

Calculated is the only studio album by the American punk rock band Heavens to Betsy, released on March 21, 1994, by Kill Rock Stars. The album received positive reviews from critics.

John Goodmanson is an American recording engineer and indie rock record producer. He is best known for producing multiple albums by Bikini Kill, Blonde Redhead, Death Cab for Cutie, Los Campesinos!, and Sleater-Kinney.

<i>Leaves Turn Inside You</i> 2001 studio album by Unwound

Leaves Turn Inside You is the seventh and final studio album by the American post-hardcore band Unwound, released on April 17, 2001 by Kill Rock Stars.

<i>The Future of What</i> 1995 studio album by Unwound

The Future of What is the third studio album by the American post-hardcore band Unwound, released on April 24, 1995 by Kill Rock Stars. The album was recorded in December 1994 at John and Stu's in Seattle, Washington.

<i>New Plastic Ideas</i> 1994 studio album by Unwound

New Plastic Ideas is the second studio album by the American post-hardcore band Unwound, released on March 21, 1994 by Kill Rock Stars.

<i>A Single History: 1991–1997</i> 1999 compilation album by Unwound

A Single History: 1991–1997 is a compilation album by Unwound released on Kill Rock Stars. It contains tracks previously released on various 7-inch singles and multiple-artist compilations. "Crab Nebula" and "Stumbling Block" originally appeared on the band's 1991 demo tape. The fourth song is a reference to the U.S. government's secret MKUltra brainwashing program. The "Negated"/ "Said Serial"/ "Census" 7-inch was the first-ever release on Troubleman Unlimited Records. "Plight" is a cover of a Minutemen song, from the tribute disc Our Band Could Be Your Life. "Seen Not Heard" is from a split 7-inch with Steel Pole Bath Tub; the song comes from the Repetition album sessions. Following an extended drum and bass-style intro, "The Light At The End..." features odd vocal snippets from a man trying to persuade some band to make upbeat, "tribal-sounding" aerobics music.

<i>Challenge for a Civilized Society</i> 1998 studio album by Unwound

Challenge for a Civilized Society is the sixth studio album by the American post-hardcore band Unwound, released on January 13, 1998 by Kill Rock Stars. It was produced by Steve Fisk and recorded from August 1, 1997, to August 15, 1997, at John and Stu's in Seattle, Washington. The album received positive reviews from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Trosper</span> Musical artist

Justin Trosper is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, born in Olympia, Washington. He fronted the post-hardcore band Unwound from 1991 to 2002 and again from 2022 to present day. He has also been a member of bands such as Replikants, The Young Ginns, and Worst Case Scenario. Most of his work has been released on the independent record label Kill Rock Stars.

<i>Unwound</i> (Unwound album) 1995 studio album by Unwound

Unwound is the fourth studio album by the American post-hardcore band Unwound. The album was originally intended to be their debut, but was eventually pushed back three years later. Trouser Press called the album "one of their best".

Swelter is a rock music group, formed in 1989. They were generally associated with the city of Tacoma, Washington.

Survival Knife was an American post-hardcore band, which formed in early 2011. They played their first show in March 2012. The band has played shows through the Pacific Northwest with such groups as METZ, Bitch Magnet, Mosquito Hawk, Wimps, Kinski, and Hungry Ghost. They completed a west coast tour in April 2013 supporting Modest Mouse. Two members of Survival Knife, Justin Trosper and Brandt Sandeno, were members of the post-hardcore band Unwound that broke up in 2002.

References

  1. ↑ Sacher, Andrew. "18 landmark emo & post-hardcore albums from 1996". Brooklyn Vegan . Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Matt Ashare. "Repetition". Boston Phoenix . Archived from the original on 2005-03-10. Retrieved 2005-03-10.
  3. 1 2 Daniel Mitchell. "No Future of What..." Ink 19. Archived from the original on 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  4. ↑ "Unwound - Repetition". Rough Trade . Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  5. ↑ Repetition (CD booklet). Unwound. Olympia, Washington: Kill Rock Stars. 1996.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. 1 2 Mike Noren (1997-05-16). "Unwound". The Stanford Daily . Archived from the original on 1997-02-06. Retrieved 2015-05-02.
  7. 1 2 "Unwound". Kill Rock Stars. Archived from the original on 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  8. 1 2 Blake Butler. "Repetition". AllMusic . Archived from the original on 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  9. ↑ Megan McCarthy (June 1996). "Repetition". CMJ New Music Monthly (34): 46. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.