Un (album)

Un
Studio album by Chumbawamba
Released 8 June 2004
Recorded 2004
Genre Anarcho-punk
Length 45:36
Label MUTT/Edel Records (UK/Europe)
Koch Records (US)
Chumbawamba chronology
Readymades
(2002)		 Un
(2004)		 A Singsong and a Scrap
(2005)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
PopMatters(not rated)[2]
Leeds Music Scene [3]
Robert Christgau [4]

Un is the 11th studio album by Chumbawamba released in mid-2004, and features major influences from both electronic and folk music, containing many samples from world music. It serves as a bridge between the band's earlier electric sound and the later acoustic sound. The single from the album is "On eBay", which also has a music video.

Track listing

All tracks written, arranged and produced by Chumbawamba

# Song Name Length Notes
1 "The Wizard of Menlo Park" 3:41 "The Wizard of Menlo Park" is the nickname for Thomas Edison, whose voice is sampled at the beginning of the track reciting the first recorded words, "Mary had a little lamb". Also namechecks record producer Gus Dudgeon.
2 "Just Desserts" 4:01 Contains a sample of anti-homosexual country singer Anita Bryant being hit in the face with a pie by a gay rights activist and her reaction, to pray for the attackers "deviant lifestyle"; The lyrics reflect how people like Anita will "scramble to the top" by their political rhetoric, only to "fall from grace" and deservedly end up with "egg" or pie "on [their] face"
3 "On eBay" 3:47 About how ancient relics looted during the Iraq War were found being sold on eBay
4 "Everything You Know Is Wrong" 5:08 Contains references to many conspiracy theories and government misinformation efforts, such as the 'faked' moon landing, John F. Kennedy assassination and the 'missing' WMDs in Iraq
5 "Be with You" 3:27 Henry Olonga and Andy Flower wore black armbands while playing for Zimbabwe in the 2003 Cricket World Cup in protest of Robert Mugabe's government. They were later forced exile as they were no longer safe in Zimbabwe.
6 "When Fine Society Sits Down to Dine" 5:31 Contains sample of Pacifica Radio, the oldest running public radio network in the USA; The song is a critique on celebrity charity events, a topic addressed by Chumbawamba since their first record Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records 18 years earlier
7 "A Man Walks into a Bar" 4:00 Draws parallels between alcoholism and US-Cuba relations
8 "Buy Nothing Day" 3:47 Buy Nothing Day is an anti-consumerist holiday
9 "Following You" 2:48
10 "We Don't Want to Sing Along" 3:17 About the students behind the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. The two students were tormented and ridiculed by all of their classmates, and the massacre was their response. (This is a popular misconception, as the two, especially Eric Harris, were bullies rather than bullied.) Harris' suicide note read "... this comes as a result of your choices... You have taught these kids to not accept what was different."
11 "I Did It for Alfie" 2:39 The song is about Paul Kelleher, who walked into the Guildhall Art Gallery with a concealed cricket bat, and proceeded to knock the head off a statue of Margaret Thatcher. During his trial he said he had done it because "I am becoming increasingly worried as to what sort of a world I have brought my son (Alfie) into".
12 "Rebel Code" 3:28 A song celebrating Linux and the Open Source Revolution.

Personnel

with

References

  1. ↑ Loftus, Johnny. Un at AllMusic
  2. ↑ PopMatters review
  3. ↑ Leeds Music Scene review
  4. ↑ Robert Christgau review
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