This Album’s Out-Of-Print Status Makes Me So Sick, So So So Sick

noah | August 28, 2007 3:01 am

Even in the MP3 age, there are CDs worth searching out–that require the search. “O.O.P., We Did It Again” is dedicated to great albums that are criminally out of print–and that aren’t necessarily likely to become available anytime soon.

The album: Perfect Teeth (1993), the final album from Washington, D.C. trio Unrest.

Classic material: This album from the trio of Mark Robinson, Bridget Cross, and Phil Krauth. isn’t just great “put it in the tape deck and drive” material, it also inspired some Internet history, as one of its songs christened a pioneer in indie-kid social-networking. And Teeth, while not as critically adored as its predecessor Imperial f.f.r.r., is a pretty wonderful pop record, from the puppy-lovestruck “So Sick” (given the in-store acoustic treatment in the above clip) to the breezily seductive “West Coast Love Affair.”

Highlights: The rave-up “Cath Carroll,” an ode to the Miaow singer; the glorious “Make Out Club,” which has a perfect singsong chorus. Really, the whole album is a winner, and it’s actually nosed out Imperial as my preferred Unrest long-player in the past few years.

Why it’s out of print: Teeth was a co-release between 4AD, Warner, and the Robinson-led label Teen Beat; CD/digital rights are currently owned by 4AD/Beggars Banquet, who are, for some reason, keeping it in hiding.

Chances it will return to print: On CD, who knows, but a vinyl reissue may be in the cards sometime soon–Teen Beat owns the vinyl rights to Teeth in the U.S., and the label actually released a six-7″ version of the album featuring bonus tracks and remixes as a bonus-filled alternate package back in 1993.

Cost for a used copy: Amazon has used CDs available for $6.79 and up; there are also used cassette copies of the album that can be yours for $6.95 plus shipping.

Unrest [MySpace]