Let's just get right to it here; Unwound were fucking amazing. Even as I write this I can't understand why I have them all the way down at #24 (there is a formula used here adapted from one John Sellers came up with a while back that I will get around to explaining at some point). I will sadly admit however, that I initially missed the bus with this band and had never heard a note of their music prior to their last album. With that said, I will unapologetically admit that this was the first band that I developed a completely unhealthy obsession with and found myself transformed into Unwound Super Fanboy #1 overnight.
After my first listen to Leaves Turn Inside You I immediately went on a mad scramble to track down everything I could find by these guys. I found myself involuntarily having to share the gospel of Unwound to complete strangers who had the good fortune of stopping next to me at traffic lights; Me with car stereo turned up vulgarly loud: "Dude, you hear this?" Guy in car next to me: blank stare. Me: "It's Unwound. They're pretty much the best band ever." Guy in car next to me: horrified stare rolling window up. Me: "You're welcome, dude". This went on for months...okay, it is still going on, only now I have this blog that apparently five people read, which is five times more powerful than that one guy at the stoplight on Nimitz Highway headed into Honolulu. I'm still pretty sure I changed his life though.
Anyways, Unwound were fucking amazing. There was so much thought and craft and balance in everything they did. The perfect blend of dissonance and harmony, drones danced alongside pounding drum beats, synths and guitars played off of each other in times and tunings that I will never understand--this is songcraft. Similarly, with the release of Matt, Hair of the Dog produced a great example of what is meant by "craft beer." Layers upon layers of flavor, perfectly synched, complicated, it's a beer that requires you to think about it while enjoying it, something Unwound does to me. Both of these are very cerebral experiences in my opinion.
I am going "The Light at the End of the Tunnel is a Train" here for comparison sakes (though I could have easily chosen any of fifty or so other songs). The opening on that track with the dilapidated syncopated guitar in the forefront, the hook behind, then the theremin-esque entrance, it's so smooth and pretty. In the same way the nose on Matt is just leather, smoke, dark fruits, and just a touch of apple--dense and layered but earthy and still feels grounded. Smells that are familiar, pleasant, pretty, thereby for me comforting and relaxing even.
Around the 2:30 minute mark though the drums kick in. The guitars start to swirl and sweep things start going in a different direction. There is noise and excitement and attitude--it's that weird combination of brash and tempered that Unwound did so well. Again with Matt it's a very similar experience. The nose will draw you into this lull, and then that first sip things immediately pick up, so much happening. You get vanilla up front, chocolate on the finish, molasses from beginning to end, a hint of bourbon, caramel, cherry, fig, and that golden apple again. It's a total heady swirl of flavor that can send you absolutely reeling for a second.
Well, around the 5:00 mark Unwound gives you a bit of a comedown. Synth pads just kind of roam around, feedback buzzes in the background, a sort of recovery moment to let things sink in, and to establish pace. This works well with Matt as this provides a moment to really take in that flavor. Decide if they went too far or if they balanced this perfectly (I will tell you now it's the latter, save yourself some thought).
The comedown doesn't last long though. Somewhere around 6:30 minutes the drums come back in and pick up the pace, pounding, pulsing, and then immediately switching to an almost primitive beat with some plinkering in the background. Lo-fi samples come layered in and find their place in the perfectly orchestrated mess and there is just this excitement and rock 'n roll feel that comes shining through. For me, it is a similar feeling with Matt. There is so much here, it is exciting to know that someone out there put that much thought into making this beer. Every sip tastes just a bit different than the last. Each time it threatens to all just fall apart but something brings it back and makes it all work here. Something that Unwound did better than just about anyone, flirt with disaster and find perfection.
This is the spirit of rock people, push the fucking limits, take chances, put everything you have into defining your sound. Unwound did this on every song. They never rested on their laurels. They were noise, punk, post-what-the-fuck-ever...screw that...they were just Unwound. Nothing will ever be like them again. I fell the same way about Matt. I get that it technically falls into the Strong Ale world, but it certainly does not play by the rules. This beer is a golden standard of craft brewing. Unmistakably independent in spirit and probably won't be appreciated by as many people as it should be...something that can certainly be said about Unwound. I figure though, neither them or Hair of the Dog did it for anyone else but regardless it makes me happy to know that bottles of Matt and Unwound LPs exist in the world. It can't be too bad of a place with that, right?
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