Unit (album)

Last updated

Unit
Regurgitator-Unit.jpg
Studio album by
Regurgitator
Released7 November 1997
RecordedMay−August 1997
Studio"The Dirty Room", Brisbane, Australia
Length36:17 (Unit)
50:50 (Unit Re-Booted)
Label Eastwest
Producer Regurgitator, Magoo
Regurgitator chronology
Tu-Plang
(1996)		Unit
(1997)		 ...art
(1999)
Singles from Unit
  1. "Everyday Formula"
    Released: October 1997
  2. "Black Bugs"
    Released: January 1998
  3. "Polyester Girl"
    Released: May 1998
  4. "! (The Song Formerly Known As)"/"Modern Life"
    Released: September 1998

Unit is the second studio album by Australian rock band Regurgitator, released in November 1997. Its style is a mixture of 1980s style synthesised pop music and alternative rock, with some hip hop influences. The album debuted and peaked at number 4 on the ARIA Charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1998, the album won five ARIA Music Awards; including Album of the Year.

Contents

In October 1998, the album was re-released as Unit Re-Booted, which included the album's five music videos.

In 2012, Regurgitator performed the entire album along with Tu-Plang on the Australian RetroTech tour.

The album was re-issued on vinyl by Valve in October 2013.

Prior to recording

Regurgitator had just completed their eleventh extensive Australian tour (with The Fauves and Tomorrow People), when they planned to start recording a follow-up to their first album, Tu-Plang . This was delayed when the band decided to make their third trip to America to do a tour with bands Helmet and The Melvins. Yeomans said of the tour, "I remember being completely frightened the whole time. They were real hard-arses. Helmet were a little army unit, and their fans were fucking really intense, really aggressive guys. Yeah, really full-on. So maybe it did have an effect." [1] In 2008, manager Paul Curtis recalled that Yeomans had also stated "thank god Grinspoon came along because they took all the male angst away from our shows". [2]

The Dirty Room

Upon return, the group rented a condemned warehouse in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley to write and record Unit. They affectionately named this studio "The Dirty Room". Yeomans said, "Martin did a lot of the set up – Magoo as well – and they put in carpet underlay that they'd found somewhere that was just filthy. Ergh! It had this real soporific effect as soon as you walked in and you just wanted to fall asleep. One of the funny stories is Rob Cavallo coming in to have a listen to one of the tracks, and he just fell asleep on this piss-stained mattress we had lying on the ground. It was a really dingy vibe." [1]

Writing and recording

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]

Regurgitator had begun experimenting with drum machines and synthesizers on their first album, Tu-Plang . Amongst the gear that Yeomans and Ely were using at the time was the Clavia Nord Lead, the Akai S3000XL, the Farfisa Super Bravo Organ and the newly released Roland MC-303 "Groovebox, which featured on a number of tracks including "Unit" and "Polyester Girl". [4] Ely stated that the track that ultimately helped the band decide the change in musical direction was the ironically titled "I Like Your Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff", which began as a punk rock track with some keyboard but gradually "breaking it down with a more minimal keyboard heavy sound, leaving off most of the distorted guitar attack, and adding a vocoder gave the song something we were excited and terrified by at the same". [2] [4] Magoo added, "Martin said, 'Let's go full Ultravox!" We started going, let's record the drums without cymbals. Let's have the keyboards play the basslines." [5]

After 6 weeks of recording, the album was completed on 2 August 1997.

Cover art

The cover is a large, plain yellow circle centred on a plain silver background. On the outside surface of the jewel CD case is a transparent sticker with the words "REGURGITATOR" and "UNIT" printed in black for identification in stores. This minimalist design, credited to "The Shits" (Quan Yeomans and Janet English) and Ben Ely, won the 1998 ARIA award for best cover art.

Unit Re-Booted has very similar cover art, and came in four bright colour variations – lime green, purple, royal blue and peach-orange. On the re-releases, the title text was printed directly onto the paper.

Track listing

Unit track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Like Your Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff"B. Ely2:35
2."Everyday Formula"Q. Yeomans2:12
3."! (The Song Formerly Known As)"Q. Yeomans3:25
4."Black Bugs"B. Ely3:00
5."The World of Sleaze"Q. Yeomans3:25
6."I Piss Alone"Q. Yeomans2:05
7."Unit"B. Ely/M. Lee/Q. Yeomans1:42
8."I Will Lick Your Arsehole"Q. Yeomans3:20
9."Modern Life"B. Ely2:23
10."Polyester Girl"Q. Yeomans3:33
11."1234"B. Ely0:51
12."Mr T"B. Ely3:08
13."Just Another Beautiful Story"Q. Yeomans4:38
Total length:36:17
Re-Booted music videos
No.TitleLength
1."Everyday Formula"2:12
2."Black Bugs"3:00
3."Polyester Girl"3:33
4."! (The Song Formerly Known As)"3:25
5."Modern Life"2:23
Total length:14:33

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Unit
Chart (1997–1999)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [6] 4
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [7] 7

Year-end charts

1997 year-end chart performance for Unit
Chart (1997)Position
Australian Albums Chart [8] 93
1998 year-end chart performance for Unit
Chart (1998)Position
Australian Albums Chart [9] 20

Certifications

Certifications for Unit
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [10] 3× Platinum210,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Legacy

In October 2010, the album was listed in the top 30 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums . [11] In July 2011, the album was voted 10th in Triple J's Hottest 100 Australian Albums of All Time. In December 2021, the album was listed at no. 14 in Rolling Stone Australia's '200 Greatest Albums of All Time' countdown. [12]

Regurgitator played Unit & Tu-Plang in full on the RetroTech Tour in 2012.

In 2017, Regurgitator played a special one-off show at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre celebrating 20 years of Unit, with the show called UNIT20. The show was filmed & was later released on DVD in 2019.

In 2022, the album was included in the Oceania line of the 331⁄3 book series. [13]

In 2023, Regurgitator toured around Australia for 25 years of Unit, with Custard, DZ Deathrays, Butterfingers & Glitoris.

Release history

Release history for Unit
RegionDateFormatLabelCatalogue
AustraliaNovember 1997
 EastWest 3984212761
United Kingdom1998CDCoalition
AustraliaOctober 1998
EastWest3984252602
AustraliaOctober 2013
 Valve V131V

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regurgitator</span> Australian rock band

Regurgitator are an Australian alternative rock band from Brisbane, Queensland, formed in late 1993 by Quan Yeomans on lead vocals, guitar and keyboards; Ben Ely on bass guitar, keyboards and vocals; and Martin Lee on drums. Their debut studio album, Tu-Plang was released in May 1996; it was followed by Unit in November 1997 which was certified triple platinum. Unit won five categories at the ARIA Music Awards of 1998: Album of the Year, Best Alternative Album, Producer of the Year, Engineer of the Year (Magoo) and Best Cover Art. Their third album, ...Art was released in August 1999.

<i>Tu-Plang</i> 1996 studio album by Regurgitator

Tu-Plang is the first album released by Australian rock band Regurgitator. After making two EPs, the band chose to record the album in Bangkok, Thailand, to the quandary of its label, Warner Music, which was uncertain as to what terms A&R executive Michael Parisi had contracted. Ely later said, "We didn't want to do it in just any old place, so we had a tour in Europe and Japan booked and our drummer Martin said, 'let's stop in Thailand on the way and check out some studios,' so we did and we found this place."

The Cruel Sea are an Australian indie rock band from Sydney, New South Wales formed in late 1987. Originally an instrumental band, they became more popular when fronted by vocalist Tex Perkins. For the majority of the band's tenure, the band has featured Jim Elliott on drums, Ken Gormly on bass guitar, Dan Rumour on guitar and James Cruickshank on guitar and keyboards. Between 1990 and 2001, the band released six studio albums – three of which were all certified Platinum by ARIA. The band are also known for their music having featured on television, such as "Better Get a Lawyer" soundtracking an RTA ad targeting drink driving, and "Reckless Eyeballin'" – an instrumental track from their debut album Down Below – becoming the theme of Australian TV police drama Blue Heelers. The band has won eight ARIA Music Awards, including five in 1994 for work associated with The Honeymoon Is Over.

Front End Loader are an Australian rock band which formed in December 1991 with founding mainstays, Bowden Campbell on guitar and vocals; Davis Claymore on lead vocals and guitar; Richard Corey on bass guitar; and Peter Kostic on drums. Front End Loader have issued six studio albums, Front End Loader, Let's Ride!, Last of the V8 Interceptors, How Can We Fail When We're So Sincere?, Ritardando and Neutral Evil (2018). At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011 Front End Loader won an award for Ritardando as Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album. Kostic has also drummed for fellow Australian groups Regurgitator (1999–present) and The Hard-Ons (2002–2011).

<i>Internationalist</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Powderfinger

Internationalist is the third studio album by Australian alternative rock band Powderfinger. The album was released on 7 September 1998 and was often labelled Powderfinger's most adventurous work, with greater experimentation than in previous works.

Happyland were an Australian punk rock duo formed in Brisbane, Queensland in 1997 as a side project by Janet English on bass guitar and lead vocals and her then-boyfriend, Quan Yeomans on lead guitar and vocals. They were originally named, The Shampoodles, but decided on Happyland. Their only album, Welcome to Happyland, was released on 25 August 1998, via the Polydor Australia label, which reached No. 18 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It provided the single, "Don't You Know Who I Am?", which peaked at No. 24 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quan Yeomans</span> Australian musician

Quan Yeomans is an Australian musician best known as the frontman of the band Regurgitator.

<i>Mish Mash!</i> 2004 studio album by Regurgitator

Mish Mash! is the fifth studio album from Australian rock band, Regurgitator. Mish Mash! was released on 15 November 2004 and peaked at number 52 on the ARIA Charts.

Skunkhour are an Australian funk rock band that were formed in Sydney in 1991. They released four studio albums, Skunkhour, Feed, Chin Chin and The Go before disbanding in November 2001. Feed peaked at No. 21 on the ARIA Albums Chart while Chin Chin reached No. 34. Four of the group's songs, "Up to Our Necks in It" (1995), "Weightlessness" (1997), "Home" (1999), and "Kick in the Door" (2000) were listed in the annual Triple J Hottest 100. The group has reformed periodically since 2009 for occasional concerts and festival appearances.

<i>...art</i> 1999 studio album by Regurgitator

...art is the third studio album from the Australian rock band, Regurgitator, released in August 1999. The album was recorded in Byron Bay and was the final album with drummer Martin Lee. ...art peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Charts and was certified gold.

Magoo is the professional name of Lachlan Goold, a multi award-winning Australian music producer based in Brisbane, Queensland.

The 10th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 30 September 1996 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. Presenters distributed 28 awards with the big winner for the year was You Am I gaining six awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polyester Girl</span> 1998 single by Regurgitator

"Polyester Girl" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released in May 1998 as the third single from the band's second studio album Unit. "Polyester Girl" peaked at No. 14 in Australia and No. 16 in New Zealand and it also ranked at No. 26 on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gang of Youths</span> Australian rock band

Gang of Youths are an Australian alternative rock band, which formed in 2012. Since 2020, the group consists of David Le'aupepe on lead vocals, rhythm guitar and piano, Max Dunn on bass guitar, Jung Kim on guitar and keyboards, Donnie Borzestowski on drums and Tom Hobden on violin, rhythm guitar and keyboards. They relocated to England in 2017. Founding member Joji Malani, on lead guitar and backing vocals, left them in 2019 to return to Australia. The band's debut studio album, The Positions (2015), received multiple ARIA Award nominations and peaked at number five on the Australian albums chart. It provided the single "Magnolia", which has been described as their breakthrough hit and was certified platinum in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Bugs</span> 1998 single by Regurgitator

"Black Bugs" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. It was released in January 1998 as the second single from the band's second studio album, Unit (1997). The single peaked at number 32 in Australia and was ranked at the same position on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 1998. The single also peaked at number 88 in the United Kingdom, becoming Regurgitator's first and only song to enter the top 100 in that country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blubber Boy</span> 1995 single by Regurgitator

"Blubber Boy" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released as a radio single in Australia in 1995 promoting the band's second EP New (1995). The song was released in the UK as a CD and 7" Single. The song ranked at number 17 on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 1995. A remixed version of the song was released on the band's debut studio album, Tu-Plang in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Sucked a Lot of Cock to Get Where I Am</span> 1996 single by Regurgitator

"I Sucked a Lot of Cock to Get Where I Am" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator, lifted from the band's debut studio album Tu-Plang. The song was not commercially released in Australia; however, a 7" vinyl single was released in US in November 1996 and in the UK in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">F.S.O.</span> 1996 single by Regurgitator

"F.S.O." is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released in February 1996 as the band's first commercially released single and first single from the band's debut studio album Tu-Plang. The single peaked at number 51 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kong Foo Sing</span> 1996 single by Regurgitator

"Kong Foo Sing" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released in April 1996 as the second single and first single from the band's debut studio album Tu-Plang. The single peaked at number 33 in Australia. The song ranked at number 15 on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miffy's Simplicity</span> 1996 single by Regurgitator

"Miffy's Simplicity" is a song by Australian rock band Regurgitator. The song was released in September 1996 as the third and final single from the band's debut studio album Tu-Plang. The single peaked at number 54 in Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 Matt Shea (24 September 2012). "Regurgitator's 'Unit': 'It's A Really Weird Dot on the Landscape'". Mess and Noise. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 "The Album Series – Regurgitator: Unit | media | triple j". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  3. ↑ Unit at AllMusic
  4. 1 2 "Retrospective track-by-track: Regurgitator, Unit – Artists". The Music Network. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Andrew Stafford (2016). Pig City: From the Saints to Savage Garden . University of Queensland Press. p. 285. ISBN   9780702235610.
  6. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Regurgitator – Unit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Charts.nz – Regurgitator – Unit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  8. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1997". ARIA. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  9. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  10. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  11. ↑ O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). 100 Best Australian Albums . Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN   978-1-74066-955-9.
  12. ↑ Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Australian Albums of All Time. Rolling Stone Australia, Rolling Stone Australia, 06 December 2021. Retrieved 06 December 2021.
  13. ↑ bloomsbury.com. "Regurgitator's Unit". Bloomsbury. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
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.