Unwound

Unwound is an indie rock band, described by some as "the most musically abrasive. For most other music, this would indicate that most people would find it unlistenable, but this is hardly the case here. Instead, they sound more like a pop-minded Sonic Youth. (Cue the usually accusation that Sonic Youth is "just noise.") Like Sonic Youth, there is something strangely compelling about their nontraditional songs.

Unwound was founded in Olympia, the town that was the center of so much punk music. The band released two singles early in their career with Kill Rock Stars, and later on started their own label, Punk in my Vitamins.

Downstairs Drama

Earlier this year I wrote a couple of reviews of Downton Abbey, the new miniseries that follows both the lives of the wealthy family (the upstairs) and their servants (the downstairs). One of the many issues I struggled with, and that I hinted at in my reviews, is the depiction of women and queer/non-heterosexual men.*
The show spent an exorbitant amount of time justifying the economic disadvantages that the three daughters were in. Mary, the eldest, spends the most time complaining about this and trying to manipulate the situation to her advantage, but to no avail. Nothing can apparently be done, as is said by various characters. There was something about this that struck me as entirely false. First, if this is such the case, why not try to show how incredibly unjustified and hurtful for the sisters this is? Second, why does it matter if on this issue one is historically accurate, especially when historical accuracy is thrown out the window any other time it serves the writer's needs?
The show also demonized the two male characters who had sex with men. One of them was a drunk, conniving, mean-spirited and selfish git. The other one of them manipulated a female character. There are so many homophobic depictions of gay people out there, this seemed entirely ridiculous. Just because a piece is set in a historical period does not mean it needs to be written in a regressed fashion.
I have not been terribly impressed with certain other dramas that copy from this basic format (which itself is clearly copied from a much older show, titled Upstairs Downstairs.) I kept finding myself wishing that someone would tell some story about this time period that dealt more honestly with non-dominant views and told a story from a voice or voices of people who our so frequently overlooked, which is why I was overjoyed at seeing news of a new movie called Albert Nobbs, which explores the life of a woman who dresses as a man as a way to beat the economic disadvantages women faced and is attracted to another woman. I realize that this might not be a perfect movie either, but I am hopefully that this will be a more realistic and sympathetic portrayal of someone who is usually either absent or depicted unfairly in media.

*I am unsure what to make of certain male character's sexuality, and in an attempt not to place them in the incorrect category, I have tried simply to indicate that their behavior indicates that they are not heterosexual. Since this was a time of mostly silence around the issue, and the characters themselves do not identify themselves explicitly, I wanted to acknowledge that it would be easy to interpret their behavior in multiple ways.

Heavy Metals

As part of my D.I.Y. study of Seattle music, I have obviously encountered metal and metal-influenced bands. I recently found this great chart that categorizes all sorts of metal music, including Seattle bands like Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and The Melvins. This chart does a great job of organizing the different types of metal in relation with one another. In reference to my recent Seattle study, it is easy to see how Seattle metal interacted with other non-Seattle bands. These types of charts really help a novice such as myself really pick apart at these important bands, sounds, subgenres and movements.

Malfunkshun

Of most of Malfunkshun's music, I have been really unimpressed. This song, "My Only Fan," is one of the few songs I like. The guitar rifts here are particularly compelling. Malfunkshun is an important band, because, along with Green River, Skin Yard, Soundgarden and U-Men, they are considered one of the proto-grunge bands of Seattle. Andrew Wood, the frontman for the group, died of heroin, effectively ending the band.

Soundgarden

Soundgarden, along with Nirvana, the Melvins, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam, are all considered seminal grunge bands. Soundgarden, maybe more than these other bands, more directly influenced later rock music, at least in terms of sound. This may be due to the fact they were more directly influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, who have themselves continued to influence music.
"Spoonman," above, is one of the most loved among critics. It is hard not to see why, since the song is an ode to someone who makes music using spoons, integrating the sound into a rock song. (And who writes a rock song about something that does not involve sex, drugs, angst or fame? Who would write a rock song about spoons? Soundgarden, that's who.)

Chris Cornell is probably still the most famous member of this band. After Soundgarden, he would go on to found Audioslave, and I am under the impression he does solo work. Soundgarden has also recently gone on a short reunion tour.

From the Back Room

Considering my ongoing study of the Seattle music scene, I wanted to post this trailer for a documentary called From the Back Room, which is about women in the punk/D.I.Y. scene. Seattle was an important place for punk, particularly women in punk, and this documentary will have interviews with punk women from bands like Bikini Kill.
One of the things that makes me most hopefully about this documentary is that it immediately addresses the issue of women in punk (and their marginalization) but also racism, which is one of the other problems in punk. I cannot wait to see this.

Amazing Bookstores

Flavorwire recently posted this amazing-looking bookstores list. As a literary nerd, of course, I love lots of different bookstores, to the point where I have favorite bookstores for every city (Powell's for Portland, Curious for East Lansing, The Strand for New York). And looking at some of these amazing places, like Livraria da Vila in Sao Paulo, Poplar Kid's Republic Bookstore or The Montague Bookmill, I am tempted to plan a vacation to one of these cities just to have an excuse to go to one of these places. Given my love of Coney Island, I am heartbroken that I cannot hang out at their Bookstore and Barber Shop, which is charming in the same way Coney Island always is.