''Rat Conspiracy'' is a compilation of recordings by the

post-hardcore Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. Like the term " post-punk", the term "post-hardcore" has been applied to a broad conste ...

band

Unwound Unwound () is an American post-hardcore band formed in 1988 in Tumwater and Olympia, Washington. It presently consists of vocalist-guitarist Justin Trosper, bassist Jared Warren, drummer Sara Lund, and guitarist Scott Seckington. Originally ...

. It features the ''

Fake Train ''Fake Train'' is the debut studio album by the American post-hardcore band Unwound, released on July 7, 1993, by Kill Rock Stars. Background While being the first studio album in the band's catalog to be released, and the first LP on Kill Rock ...

'' and ''

New Plastic Ideas ''New Plastic Ideas'' is the second studio album by the American post-hardcore band Unwound, released on March 21, 1994 by Kill Rock Stars. Background and recording The album was recorded in between from November 26–28 and December 13, 1993 at ...

'' albums along with an extra disc of live recordings, songs from singles, and demos from the recording sessions of their respective albums. It was released on March 18, 2014 by

The Numero Group The Numero Group is an archival record label that creates compilations of previously released music, reissues original albums, and creates album reconstructions from a variety of musical genres. The label, known as Numero, was founded in 2003 ...

as the second of a four-album reissue series.

History

Unwound formed in 1988 and broke up in 2002. In 2013, it was announced that Chicago-based archival record label

were going to remaster and reissue the band's full discography, it's centerpiece being four boxsets separated by albums. The title of the boxset was the original title for ''Fake Train''. One version of Rat Conspiracy included an extra disc of demos of ''Fake Train'' songs, entitled ''Faked Train''. It was later released on its own in 2023.

Reception

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

gave the album a 9.1 and named it Best New Reissue, saying that "More than any records of their generation, they embody a paradox that disaffected youth has been stabbing at since the advent of rock 'n' roll: how it feels to be cocooned among strangers in utter alienation, yet stand as one". Treble Zine said that "These songs aren't simply high on volume, they're tense in a way that simple punk aggression could never properly convey". Impose Magazine said that "Unwound should be remembered, so the story goes, for their unwillingness to bend to commercial influence. On the one hand, perhaps this story was designed to sell me a 40 dollar boxset. On the other, the music speaks for itself—and the music preserved on Rat Conspiracy speaks volumes".

The Quietus ''The Quietus'' is a British online music and pop culture magazine founded by John Doran and Luke Turner. The site is an editorially independent publication led by Doran with a group of freelance journalists and critics. Content ''The Quietu ...

said that "if nothing else, this two-hour compendium of righteous, often superlative noise demonstrates that they could also cater to dancin' feet, and ears looking to be bled like radiators".

Tracklisting

''Fake'' ''Train''

''New Plastic Ideas''

''Rat Conspiracy''

Credits

Derived from liner notes. *

Justin Trosper Justin Trosper is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, born in Olympia, Washington. He fronted the post-hardcore band Unwound from 1991 to 2002 and again since the band’s reunion in 2022. He has also been a member of bands su ...

- vocals, guitar, writer *

Vern Rumsey Vernon Emmry Aldo Rumsey (January 24, 1973 – August 6, 2020) was an American musician. He is best known for his work as the bassist of the post-hardcore band Unwound, in which he was a co-founding member. He was also in the bands Long Hind Leg ...

- bass, writer *

Sara Lund Sara Lund (born 1973) is an American musician. She is best known as the drummer for the post-hardcore Olympia, Washington band Unwound for a decade until their break up in 2002. Lund was playing for Witchypoo when she joined Unwound in 1992 repla ...

- drums, writer * Maria Rice - mastering engineer * Jeff Lipton - mastering engineer * Henry H. Owings - design * Judson Picco - editor * Julia Dratel - transcriber * D. Boon - writer ("Plight") *

Mike Watt Michael David Watt (born December 20, 1957) is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He co-founded and played bass guitar for the rock bands Minutemen (1980–1985), Dos (1985–present), and Firehose (1986–1994). He began a solo ca ...

- writer ("Plight")

References

{{Unwound Post-hardcore compilation albums The Numero Group compilation albums 2010s compilation albums Unwound albums