The climactic entry in our four-set Unwound exploration, Empire compiles the final pair of albums by the Olympia, Washington, trio. On 1998's Challenge For A Civilized Society, the band toyed with conventional verse/chorus form, stacking layers of noise and distraction on top of tightly constructed melodies. They'd abdicate entirely just three years later with 2001's Leaves Turn Inside You, executing a 14-song masterclass in home recording that observed a crucial band in graceful transition from post-hardcore trio to experimental quintet.
Label: Numero Group – 202.5, Numero Group – N 202.5, Numero Group – NUM 202.5
Series: 200 Line – NUM202.5
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Box Set, Compilation, Limited Edition
Country: US
Released: Sep 2015
Genre: Rock
Style: Post-Punk, Math Rock, Art Rock
Tracklist
Challenge For A Civilized Society
A1 Data 3:33
A2 Laugh Track 3:13
A3 Meet The Plastics 3:12
A4 The World Is Flat 4:34
A5 Sonata For Loudspeakers 5:20
B1 No Tech! 1:42
B2 Side Effects Of Being Tired 9:00
B3 Lifetime Achievement Award 5:09
B4 What Went Wrong 8:34
Leaves Turn Inside You
C1 We Invent You 4:06
C2 Look A Ghost 3:04
C3 December 4:03
C4 Treachery 4:17
D1 Terminus 9:40
D2 Demons Sing Love Songs 4:03
D3 Off This Century 5:30
E1 One Lick Less 5:36
E2 Scarlette 4:44
E3 October All Over 4:59
E4 Summer Freeze 5:36
F1 Radio Gra 5:36
F2 Below The Salt 10:39
F3 Who Cares 2:25
Empire
G1 Mile Me Deaf 2:25
G2 The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Is A Train 10:18
G3 Solo Sonata 3:42
G4 XLNT 2:05
H1 Laszlo 4:58
H2 Torch Song 3:58
H3 Meet The Plastics (Demo Instrumental) 2:55
H4 The World Is Flat (Demo Instrumental) 4:15
H5 Empire (Demo Instrumental) 3:55