Unsane (album)

Last updated
Unsane
Unsane.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 26, 1991
RecordedJanuary 16, 1991
StudioFun City (New York City, New York)
Genre Noise rock, [1] post-hardcore
Length36:52
Label Matador
Producer Wharton Tiers
Unsane
Unsane chronology
Unsane
(1991)
Singles 89–92
(1992)

Unsane is the debut album by Unsane, released in 1991 through Matador Records. It is the only studio album by the group to feature founding member Charlie Ondras, who died of a heroin overdose during the 1992 New Music Seminar in New York during the tour supporting the album. [2] The album's cover art, depicting a decapitated corpse on subway tracks, was given to the band from a friend who worked on the investigation for the case. [3]

Contents

Death metal band Entombed covered "Vandal-X" on their self-titled compilation album in 1997.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Ox-Fanzine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [5]
Select Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Patrick Kennedy from AllMusic called it a brilliant and daring debut that "assaults the senses like the Swans or Foetus before them, but tempers that art-scum priggishness with clear roots in punk and classic rock." [1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Unsane

No.TitleLength
1."Organ Donor"2:10
2."Bath"2:54
3."Maggot"3:17
4."Cracked Up"2:57
5."Slag"2:43
6."Exterminator"5:55
7."Vandal-X"2:04
8."HLL."2:31
9."AZA-2000"2:33
10."Cut"2:48
11."Action Man"2:28
12."White Hand"4:26
Total length:36:52

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Frankenchrist</i> 1985 album by Dead Kennedys

Frankenchrist is the third album by the American hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys, released in 1985 on Alternative Tentacles.

<i>Gordon</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Barenaked Ladies

Gordon is the debut studio album by Canadian band Barenaked Ladies. It was released through Sire Records on July 28, 1992. After The Yellow Tape was certified platinum in Canada, the group won a contest hosted by a local radio station. With the winnings, Barenaked Ladies were able to hire producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda and record the album at Le Studio, north of Montreal, Quebec, Chalet Recording Studios, and Reaction Studios. Though most of the album was recorded without incident, difficulty with "The King of Bedside Manor" caused the band to record the track naked—a tradition they would continue on other albums. Horn parts, guest vocalists, and nods to other bands including Rush allowed Barenaked Ladies to expand on the sound they had developed while touring. "They had a real clarity about what they wanted [the album] to be ... I just captured what it is they do", said Wojewoda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head Like a Hole</span> 1990 song by Nine Inch Nails

"Head Like a Hole" is a song by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released as the second single from the group's debut album, Pretty Hate Machine. It enjoyed heavy rotation on the radio at the time of its release, eventually reaching number 9 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

<i>Couldnt Stand the Weather</i> 1984 studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Couldn't Stand the Weather is the second studio album by American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. It was released on May 15, 1984, by Epic Records as the follow-up to the band's critically and commercially successful 1983 album, Texas Flood. Recording sessions took place in January 1984 at the Power Station in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unsane (band)</span> American noise rock band

Unsane is an American noise rock trio that was formed in New York City in 1988. Its music touches on elements of hardcore punk and metal. The writer Patrick Kennedy wrote, "While developing the blueprint for noise-metal bands to follow, Unsane cut a remarkable swath through underground music, inspiring a devoted, cult-like following around the world."

<i>New Found Power</i> 2004 studio album by Damageplan

New Found Power is the only studio album released by the American heavy metal supergroup Damageplan. The group was formed by brothers "Dimebag Darrell" Abbott (guitar) and "Vinnie Paul" Abbott (drums) after the breakup of their previous band, Pantera. This is the final album that was released during Darrell's lifetime, before his death less than 10 months after the release.

<i>Mental Jewelry</i> 1991 studio album by Live

Mental Jewelry is the second studio album by the band Live—but their first under this name; they had previously released the album The Death of a Dictionary under the name Public Affection, under which they also released the EP Divided Mind, Divided Planet. Released on December 31, 1991, it is also the band's major label debut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnapop</span> American pop punk band formed in 1989

Magnapop is an American rock band based in Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1989, the band has consistently included songwriting duo Linda Hopper as vocalist and Ruthie Morris on guitar. Magnapop first achieved recognition in the Benelux countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg through the festival circuit and have remained popular in Europe throughout their career. After modest success in the United States in the mid-1990s with the singles "Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door" and a series of albums produced by Michael Stipe, Bob Mould, and Geza X, the band went on an extended hiatus due to the dissolution of their record label. They returned with a new rhythm section in 2005 on the Daemon Records release Mouthfeel. The band has continued to perform and record since this reunion and have self-released two more albums. Magnapop's musical style is noted for blending the pop vocals and melodies of Hopper with the aggressive, punk-influenced guitar-playing of Morris and her back-up vocal harmonies.

Vincent Signorelli is a drummer from New York City. He has toured in clubs throughout the world, primarily with Unsane, NYC's infamous noise rock trio. He has played primarily with Swans, Unsane, and Foetus. Additionally, he has done session work with Lubricated Goat, Of Cabbages and Kings, and the slo-core band Idaho. Concurrent with his involvement in Unsane, Signorelli runs a tattoo shop in New York called True Blue located in Queens on Fresh Pond Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Kentucky Headhunters</span> American country rock and Southern rock band

The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock and Southern rock band originating in the state of Kentucky. The band's members are Doug Phelps, Greg Martin, and brothers Richard Young and Fred Young. It was founded in 1968 as Itchy Brother, which consisted of the Young brothers and Martin, along with Anthony Kenney on bass guitar and vocals. Itchy Brother performed until 1982, with James Harrison replacing Martin from 1973 to 1976. The Youngs and Martin began performing as The Kentucky Headhunters in 1986, adding brothers Ricky Lee Phelps and Doug Phelps to the membership.

<i>Blood, Sweat & Tears</i> (Blood, Sweat & Tears album) 1968 studio album by Blood, Sweat & Tears

Blood, Sweat & Tears is the second album by the band Blood, Sweat & Tears, released on December 11, 1968. It was commercially successful, rising to the top of the U.S. charts for a collective seven weeks and yielding three successive Top 5 singles. It received a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1970 and has been certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA with sales of more than four million units in the U.S. In Canada the album enjoyed four runs and altogether eight weeks at No. 1 on the RPM national album chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Today Is the Day</span> American noise rock band

Today Is the Day is an American noise rock and experimental metal band that originally formed in Nashville, Tennessee. The band's diverse sound combines influences from areas such as noise music, avant-garde metal, grindcore, post-hardcore, and alternative rock among other genres. Most of the band's recordings make extensive use of dissonance and sampling, as well as unusual production techniques and psychedelic overtones. Lyrical themes include depression, warfare, violence, altered states of consciousness, and mental disorders.

<i>Amrep Xmas</i> 1997 live album by Unsane

Amrep Xmas is Unsane's first live album, released in 1997 through Man's Ruin Records. "Four Sticks" is a Led Zeppelin cover and appeared originally in their fourth album.

<i>Scattered, Smothered & Covered</i> 1995 studio album by Unsane

Scattered, Smothered & Covered is Unsane's third studio album, released in 1995 through Amphetamine Reptile. The album is the first to feature bassist Dave Curran, who replaced founding member Pete Shore after he left the band in 1994. Two of the album's tracks, "Scrape" and "Alleged", had music videos produced for them. The music video for "Scrape", a compilation of skate board accident videos, was made for only $169 and was played heavily on MTV. The album was named in honor of Waffle House, a southern restaurant chain. One of Waffle House's advertising campaigns used the phrase "scattered, smothered and covered," a reference to hash browns ordered prepared with onions and cheese.

<i>Total Destruction</i> 1994 studio album by Unsane

Total Destruction is the second studio album by American noise rock band Unsane, released on January 18, 1994, through Matador and Atlantic Records. At the time, Matador and Atlantic had a deal where at the least six albums issued by Matador must be released through Atlantic's promotion system. The album was recorded for $25,000—a comparatively small budget for a major label album—in order to reduce the amount of money Unsane would owe to Atlantic.

<i>The Meters</i> (album) 1969 studio album by The Meters

The Meters is the debut album by the American funk group The Meters. It was released in May 1969, the first of eight albums by the band. The band's early works were developed through improvisation. Band members had spent most of the 1960s performing together in nightclubs of New Orleans. They had a fluid musical style that included elements of R&B, rock, and jazz.

<i>Magnapop</i> (album) 1992 demo album by Magnapop

Magnapop is the debut album by Magnapop, released in 1992 and re-released with bonus tracks on July 29, 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goin' Back</span> 1966 single by Dusty Springfield

"Goin' Back" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King in 1966. It describes the loss of innocence that comes with adulthood, along with an attempt, on the part of the singer, to recapture that youthful innocence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Ondras</span> American drummer

Charlie Ondras was an American drummer from New York and a founding member of the noise rock band Unsane, formerly Lawn-Chair-Blisters. He also collaborated with Jon Spencer and Cristina Martinez under the name Boss Hog and appeared on the band's first two releases. Ondras died of a heroin overdose while attending the 1992 New Music Seminar in New York.

<i>Singles 89–92</i> 1992 compilation album by Unsane

Singles 89–92 is Unsane's first compilation album, released in 1992 through Matador Records. Like the title suggests, the album is composed of singles the band released between 1989 and 1992.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kennedy, Patrick. "Allmusic ((( Unsane > Review )))". Allmusic . Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  2. Jones, Brad. "Unsane in the Brain". Unsane Biography, October 1994. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  3. Jagernauth, Kevin (2015-10-29). "Exclusive: Have A Religious Experience With Unsane In Clip From Amphetamine Reptile Doc 'The Color Of Noise'". indiewire.com. Indie Wire. Retrieved 2018-02-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. Larkin, Colin, ed. (2006). "Unsane". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8 (4th ed.). New York : MUZE : Oxford University Press. p. 353. ISBN   978-0-19-531373-4 via Internet Archive.
  5. Hiller, Joachim (December 2022). "Review". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  6. Perry, Andrew (May 1992). "Soundbites". Select . EMAP. p. 73.