Unrest (band)
| Company type | Indie rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Mark Robinson |
| Defunct | 1994 (first disbandment) |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited in 2005 and 2010 for special performances and tours |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
| Owner | Mark Robinson (founder of TeenBeat Records) |
Unrest was an indie rock group originating from the Washington, D.C. region, created by Mark Robinson, who also launched the TeenBeat label while still in high school. Their early sound was experimental, incorporating elements from punk, funk, and various other genres. The founding duo of Robinson (guitar) and Philip Krauth (drums) expanded in 1990 with the addition of Bridget Cross on bass, which steered their music toward a stripped-down yet energetic pop aesthetic.
With this formation, they produced two full-length albums: Imperial f.f.r.r. in 1992 and Perfect Teeth in 1993, the latter released under the British label 4AD Records. These records blended catchy pop melodies with avant-garde sounds such as white noise and electronic beeps. Simultaneously issued EPs emphasized the juxtaposition between their accessible pop tunes and more experimental tracks. The band disbanded in 1994; Krauth embarked on a solo path while Robinson and Cross initiated Air Miami, which delivered two singles plus the album me me me. Robinson has continued to pursue solo endeavors, fronted the bands Cotton Candy and Flin Flon, and remains active in managing TeenBeat Records.
On February 24, 2005, Unrest briefly reunited for a special performance at Washington’s Black Cat to mark TeenBeat’s 20th anniversary celebration, sharing the stage with groups such as Eggs and +/-.
In April 2008, TeenBeat issued an album by Cross under the moniker Maybe It's Reno, featuring contributions from Robinson and Krauth on the first seven tracks—essentially another Unrest reunion—with all compositions written and performed vocally by Cross.
The band came together once more for a short East Coast tour in July 2010.
Albums
- Unrest, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 2), (05/01/1985) CS
- Lisa Carol Freemont, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 6), (August 29, 1985) CS
- Tink of S.E., TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 14), (October 31, 1987) LP
- Malcolm X Park, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 21)/ Caroline Records, (October 31, 1988) LP/CS
- Kustom Karnal Blackxploitation, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 21)/ Caroline Records, (04/06/1990) LP/CS
- Imperial f.f.r.r., TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 77)/ Caroline Records/ No.6 Records/ Guernica, (March 16, 1992) LP/CD/CS
- Perfect Teeth, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 119)/ 4AD, (08/07/1993) 7-inch Box Set/LP/CD/CS
Singles
- Unrest, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 7), (11/07/1985) 7-inch
- Catchpellet, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 28), (03/01/1989) 7-inch
- Catch of the Day, split single with Shudder to Think, Big Dragg Records (1990) 7-inch
- Cherry Cherry, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 49)/ Hemiola Records, (03/11/1991) 7-inch
- Yes, She Is My Skinhead Girl, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 42)/ K Records (IPU 17), (March 16, 1991) 7-inch
- A Factory Record, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 63)/ Sub Pop, (04/08/1991) 7-inch
- Bavarian Mods & Other Hits, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 84)/ Homestead Records, (January 27, 1992) 7-inch
- So Sick, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 98), (August 23, 1993) 7-inch
- Where Are All Those Puerto Rican Boys? / Mountain with Stereolab, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 121), (October 13, 1993) split 7-inch
- Make Out Club (Remix), TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 126C/D), (December 17, 1993) 7-inch
- Animal Park, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 133C/D), (February 23, 1994) 7-inch
EPs
- Isabel Bishop, released by TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 70) in collaboration with 4AD, issued on July 21, 1992; formats include 7-inch, 12-inch, and CD
- Cath Carroll, distributed through TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 105) and 4AD, available from June 23, 1993; offered as 7-inch, 12-inch, and CD
Compilations
- Lisa Carol Freemont, issued by TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 6) on August 29, 1985; cassette format
- Extremism in Defense of Liberty is No Vice, TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 1), released February 23, 1985; cassette
- The Trouble with Harry, launched by TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 11) on January 25, 1986; cassette edition
- Twister, brought out by TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 23) on September 9, 1988; cassette
- Magic Ribbons, a box set compilation from Leopard Gecko Records (LG005), issued in 1991
- Teenbeat 50, a collaborative release by TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT50) and Matador Records, dated November 12, 1993; available on CD, LP, and cassette
- Afternoon Delight: Love Songs From Sub Pop, released by Sub Pop in 1992
- International Hip Swing, published by K Records in 1993
- The Machines: Simple Machines 7-inchs (1990–1993), from Simple Machines Records (SMR19), issued in 1994
- Fuck Pussy Galore (& All Her Friends), a joint release by TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT67) and Matador Records, dated December 13, 1993; formats include LP, CD, and cassette
- B.P.M. (1991–1994), produced by TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT175), released June 20, 1995; available on LP, CD, and cassette
Live albums
- Live at DC Space featuring Dustdevils, a co-release between Easy Records (Easy 6) and TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 41), issued February 15, 1990; cassette format
- Newcastle, August 4, 1993, released by TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 462) on September 28, 2009; CD format
- Washington D.C., February 24, 2005, issued through TeenBeat Records (TEENBEAT 469) on September 28, 2009; CD edition
References
- Wakefield: Teenbeat Book of Numbers
- Articles with short description
- 4AD artists
- Indie rock musical groups from Washington, D.C.
- Caroline Records artists
- Indie pop groups from Washington, D.C.
- Matador Records artists
- Musical groups established in 1983
- Musical groups disestablished in 1994
- Musical groups reestablished in 2010
- Musical groups disestablished in 2010
- TeenBeat Records artists
- 1983 establishments in Washington, D.C.