Re-issue of 1994 album. New Plastic Ideas is a punishing record with a solid foundation and a powerful effect on those who come into contact with it. As post-hardcore mainstays Unwound descended into greater experimentation, the trio's sonic qualities gradually became more subdued over time. 2001's Leaves Turn Inside You bears more resemblance to post-rock and shoegaze, and while there are certain explosions of fury on that album such as the pummeling "Scarlette", the song's abrasiveness is a mere echo of the controlled chaos Unwound's early period was categorized by. Those who begin their odyssey into the band's discography with Leaves (which frankly is their best album) could quite likely be turned off or even appalled by 1994's remarkably abrasive New Plastic Ideas. However, I would strongly urge any such listener to keep an open mind, as New Plastic Ideas is a punishing record with a solid foundation and a powerful effect on those who come into contact with it.
