United Nations (United Nations album)
| United Nations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Original controversial cover art, limited to 1,000 copies. | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 9, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | Summer 2008 at Big Blue Meenie Studios in Jersey City, NJ | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:22 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Tim Gilles | |||
| United Nations chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AbsolutePunk.net | 82% link |
| Loudhawk.com | 9.2/10 link |
| Rock Sound | 8/10[citation needed] |
| Sputnikmusic |   link |
United Nations is the debut from supergroup United Nations. The band features members from numerous prolific bands, such as Geoff Rickly of Thursday. Due to contractual obligations of other members, the official lineup of the band is not known.[2]
Release
[edit]The album cover was designed by Jimmy Cauty of The KLF.[3] The album received a limited edition CD release that was only available through the Eyeball Records webstore. Only 1,000 copies were sold.[4] The album was not released in stores because of copyright issues with the cover image, which is essentially the same image used for The Beatles' Abbey Road, but with The Beatles engulfed in flames.[5] One retail store, Hot Topic[6] destroyed about 7000 copies of the CDs because the store had ordered the album without knowing about the album's copyright violations, due to a no return policy the store could not return them. Staff from the store sent pictures to the band of themselves destroying the CDs.[6][7] The album was also released on vinyl, pressing was limited to 1,000 copies on red vinyl.[8]
2015 Reissue
[edit]In 2015, Temporary Residence Limited and Rickly's label Collect Records reissued the album on vinyl with updated packaging that parodied The Beatles' 1968 self-titled album.[9] The reissue contained a sticker which read:
"Cease& Desist& Destroy& Reissue. The controversial debut album reissued with original banned artwork. Now expanded for maximum litigation. Includes infinite bonus track with high-quality download. Limited edition until we get sued. Again."
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Spinning Heart of the YO-YO Lobby" | 0:57 |
| 2. | "Resolution #9" | 2:30 |
| 3. | "No Sympathy for a Sinking Ship" | 2:06 |
| 4. | "The Shape of Punk that Never Came" | 2:36 |
| 5. | "My Cold War" | 1:49 |
| 6. | "Model UN" | 1:08 |
| 7. | "Filmed in Front of a Live Studio Audience" | 3:40 |
| 8. | "Revolutions in Graphic Design" | 2:04 |
| 9. | "I Keep Living the Same Day" | 1:00 |
| 10. | "Subliminal Testing" | 2:14 |
| 11. | "Say Goodbye to General Figment of the USS Imagination" | 5:10 |
| 12. | Untitled | 13:00 |
Notes
- The song "Subliminal Testing" can be played backwards to reveal other lyrics that simply tell the listener to turn the song back around.
- The hidden track is 12:59 of silence, followed by the sound of a cash register.
Personnel
[edit]|
United Nations Additional musicians
|
Production
Artwork
|
Charts
[edit]| Chart | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| US Independent Albums[10] | 44 |
| US Heatseekers Albums[10] | 14 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "United Nations - United Nations (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
- ^ "United Nations - The Next Four Years - Reviews - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
- ^ Chelosky, Danielle (14 August 2023). "We've Got A File On You: Geoff Rickly". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Eyeball Records product page for United Nations' self-titled debut. Archived September 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 2, 2008.
- ^ "Thursday Frontman's United Nations Side Project Might Not Make It To Stores." MTV.com. September 5, 2008.
- ^ a b "United Nations (Deluxe Reissue)". Temporary Residence Ltd. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
- ^ "United Nations Vs. United Nations: How a Little Punk Band Fought the Biggest Intergovernmental Agency in the World and Won - Noisey". Noisey. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
- ^ United Nations vinyl pre-order page. Eyeball Records store. Retrieved October 14, 2008. Archived October 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Adams, Gregory (May 19, 2015). "United Nations Take the Piss Out of the Beatles with New Reissue". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ^ a b "United Nations - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2017-01-20.