Unrest

Washington DC's Unrest was one of the premier bands of indie rock's early-1990s golden years. From the tongue-in-cheek garage noise of early efforts like 1987's self-titled debut album to the shimmering, manic pop thrills of 1992's Imperial f.f.r.r., Unrest was a paragon of DIY virtue. While the band's signature sound--furiously strummed jangle pop and infectious vocal harmonies--was seemingly simple, Unrest possessed an experimental streak and high-concept approach that belied simple trad-pop sensibilities, particularly on 1993's swan song Perfect Teeth. When they broke up in 1994, Unrest left behind a body of work that virtually defined the sound and feel of college rock in the pre-grunge era.