Originally released in 2008, United Nations’ eponymous debut album was destined for commercial controversy from the moment it was announced. The anticipation surrounding its release was at a fever pitch as rumors circulated that the enigmatic band’s all-star lineup included members of Thursday, Glassjaw, and Converge.
When the album finally dropped, its lawsuit-baiting artwork – essentially the originally cover of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album, with all of the Beatles engulfed in flames – immediately forced at least one major mall retail chain (rhymes with Not Tropic) to destroy all of the several thousands of copies it had ordered. The album’s entire pressing was then recalled, destroyed, and repackaged with artwork presumably less offensive to Sir Paul and Co…
320 kbps | 102 MB UL | HF | MC ** FLAC
…before finally being deleted from production altogether with in 2010.
Now, following the success of their 2014 album The Next Four Years, Collect and Temporary Residence have joined forces to reissue the album that started it all: United Nations has been remastered and repackaged with the original “banned” artwork restored to its litigious glory — now expanded to include the previously unreleased panels that complete the original triptych and housed inside of an embossed gatefold LP or blind-stamped CD digipack that we’ve been told looks vaguely reminiscent of another album.
1. The Spinning Heart of the Yo-Yo Lobby
2. Resolution 9
3. No Sympathy for a Sinking Ship
4. The Shape of Punk That Never Came
5. My Cold War
6. Model UN
7. Filmed in Front of a Live Studio Audience
8. Revolutions in Graphic Design
9. I Keep Living the Same Day
10. Subliminal Testing
11. Say Goodbye to General Figment of the USS Imagination
12. Hidden Track (Silence)
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
Cartridge: Ortofon 2m Blue
Pre-amp: TCC-750LC
Soundcard: ASUS Xonar U7