Regurgitator's second full-length album, Unit (1997), was produced in
a DIY warehouse studio at a time when this was unusual for a major label
band. The album went three times Platinum in Australia and won five
esteemed ARIA Awards in 1998, including Album of the Year. The album's
success is indicative of a particular point in time in popular music
trends, when the world was recovering from the impact of grunge and
post-grunge bands.
Regurgitator's subversive attitude toward pop music, punk aesthetic,
unique lyrical narratives and an ironic view on their own creative
product made their music potent in an alternative market defying the
prevailing music trends. Unit and Regurgitator were the focus of
divisive critical reviews, yet they continue to rank highly as a
quintessentially Australian band. This volume situates the development
of Unit amongst the DIY culture of a politically charged Brisbane
scene, and breaks down the album through the lens of recording and
songwriting processes. This book outlines the impact of Regurgitator's
music locally and globally, by discussing what made Unit a success at
the peak of the alternative music genre.
