Idolator: unrest

Bridget Cross is not just a former member ...

Maura Johnston — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:45:00 EDT

Bridget Cross is not just a former member of Unrest, Air Miami, and Velocity Girl who put out a fine record under the name Maybe It's Reno this year: she's also a yoga instructor, glacier guide, DJ, fry cook, and an organ donor. [Juneau Empire]

Seven Videos That Got Away From Me During Blogging Hours

Maura Johnston — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EDT

It's the last day of the month, a time for desk-clearing and "to do" list-finalizing and, in the case of April 2008, celebrating that a pretty horrible 30-day stretch is near its end. With that in mind, I'm going to use the last posting day of each month for "Rule Of Sevens," in which I put together a couple of seven-item, mostly-commentary-free lists—from aborted post topics to my current best-of-the-year rundowns—for your reading pleasure. In the first installment, please enjoy these seven videos that I really wanted to post on various days during April, but didn't, for reasons ranging from "I got distracted and watched it five times in a row instead" to "All I can really say about this song is 'it's awesome and you should listen to it now.'"

1. Unrest, "Make Out Club"

(It's not just a pop gem, it's also the inspiration for the name of one of the first indie-rock social networks.)

2. Paula Abdul, "Straight Up"

(This was on VH1 Classic during my red-eye back from California Monday night. Idol looniness aside, this song is still terrific.)

3. Motley Crue - Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

(I always felt like this song never got its due, in part because it was always overshadowed by the way inferior "Sam Ol' Situation." Pro: the rolling bass line in its intro. Con: The dumb "Too Young To Fall In Love" reference. Actually most of the lyrics are not that great.)

4. Expose - Let Me Be The One

(This may be one of my all-time summer jams. I always take it out of storage when the temperature creeps over 65.)

5. Ida Maria, "Oh My God"

(Right, I know, I'm cheating because I posted this already. But this song is worth checking out if you missed it the first time. And for those of you who want to hear a different version of it, here's the band on Later With Jools Holland.)

6. Toto, "Hold The Line"

(Blame the ad buyer at the Mets' TV network who sold a package that included lots of Mohegan Sun ads soundtracked to this song.)

7. Cyndi Lauper, "She Bop"

(This video's coyness makes me lament the days before MTV's standards and practices department allowed overly blatant masturbation references to sluice through every programming hour.)

How To Make A Reunion Tour Seem A Lot Less Noteworthy

Anthony Miccio — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Weiland, the estranged singer of Velvet Revolver, has teamed up with members of Army Of Anyone and Bomb Shelter Studios owner Eric Kretz for a tour that will hit more than 50 amphitheaters this summer and fall. And this isn't the only unexpected supergroup that's formed from music's bigger names over the years—other groups have also embarked on tours, while a few have even released albums. Other examples after the jump.

• J. Mascis (More Light, Free So Free) and Lou Barlow (EMOH, New Folk Implosion) recently recorded an album with ex-Lemonhead Murph for Fat Possum Records.

• Tarzan songwriter Phil Collins went on a world tour in 2007, backed by Mike from Mike + The Mechanics and new age keyboardist Tony Banks.

• Frank Black, following the simultaneous release of his Black Letter Days and Devil's Workshop, changed his name to "Black Francis" and started a new touring band with Breeder Kim Deal (2002's Title TK), ex-Martini Joey Santiago and a magician known as The Scientific Phenomalist. They have since recorded a song for the soundtrack to Shrek 2, which was rejected.

• The FutureEmbrace rocker Billy Corgan reteamed with Zwan compatriot Jimmy Chamberlain for an album with seven differently colored covers, and bonus tracks specific to the stores and countries where they could be exclusively purchased. On tour they are joined by members of The Lassie Foundation, the Halo Friendlies and a USC Jazz Piano graduate.

• Flin Flon guitarist Mark Robinson performed a one-time engagement in DC with Teenbeat solo artist Phil Krauth and ex-con Bridget Cross.

• Lutist Sting (Songs From The Labyrinth) introduced a new combo with jazz guitarist/film scorer Andy Summers and Oysterhead drummer/film scorer Stewart Copeland at the 2007 Grammy Awards.

Now it looks like singers Joey McIntyre and Jordan Knight will be harmonizing on Today with Saw II actor Donnie Wahlberg, Upper Street member Danny Wood, and Jordan's brother Jonathan, a real estate developer. What insanity could be waiting for us next? Morrissey teamed with a Modest Mouse guitarist? Justin Timberlake hooking up with JC Chasez, a would-be astronaut, the host of The Singing Bee and a dude with bad hair? God only knows.

Stone Temple Pilots Plotting Extensive Tour [Billboard]

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

mjohnston — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:01:23 EDT

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]