Tag Archives: punk rock

Arachnophonia: Velvet Terrorism – Pussy Riot’s Russia

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Rocio (class of 2027) and features a book about the activism of the punk feminist collective Pussy Riot. Thanks, Rocio!

Velvet Terrorism – Pussy Riot’s Russia
edited by Maria Alyokhina, et al

Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot's Russia

Maria “Masha” Vladimirovna Alyokhina (Russian: Мария Владимировна Алёхина[a]) is a Russian political activist and member of the anti-Putinist punk rock collective Pussy Riot. Alyokhina was born on June 6, 1988 in Moscow, Russia. Her mother works as a programmer and her father is a mathematics professor.

The book Alyokhina co-edited – Velvet Terrorism – Pussy Riot’s Russia – showcases the largest representation of the Pussy Riot artistic collective’s work up to this date. Alyokhina describes Pussy Riot as a way of life and a form of civic responsibility. Their art is their unique way of engaging in activism and she makes it clear to the audience that her goal is to fight against the oppression of Putin’s tyranny.

Alyokhina was arrested several times (August 2012, February 2014, January 2021, and February of 2022) due to “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred,” along with other acts that where treated as crimes due to her activist ideals and opposition to Putin. Because of her continued arrests and oppression she decided to flee Russia, disguising herself as a delivery driver. In exile she tours around Europe to support victims of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The book Velvet Terrorism – Pussy Riot’s Russia chronicles an exhibit about the group curated by the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark. It’s worth a look if you’re interested in learning more about the group and its activism.

Parsons Playlists: Riot Grrrl

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! To day we feature a collection of Riot Grrrl music curated by Music Library Associate Melanie.

Riot Grrrl

Riot grrrl began in the early 1990s as a DIY, feminist punk movement. Riot grrrl saw girls as a “revolutionary soul force” with the power to disrupt the status quo; rejecting social constructs of how women were supposed to look and behave; and zeroing in on personal and political discussions of sexism, sexuality, sexual violence, female empowerment, racism, ageism, homophobia, fat shaming, and able-bodiedism.

The riot grrrl movement allowed women their own space to create music and make political statements about the issues they were facing in the punk rock community and in society.

This playlist is inspired by the Music Library’s current exhibit: “Girls to the Front: The Riot Grrrl Revolution” which you should come to the library to take a look at should you have the time or inclination.
It features riot grrrl music from the 1990s(ish), and tracks by fellow travelers, antecedents and descendants.

Riot Grrrl

Bikini Kill – “Rebel Girl”

Sleater-Kinney – “Call The Doctor”

Bratmobile – “Cool Schmool”

Excuse 17 – “Watchmaker”

7 Year Bitch – “Dead Men Don’t Rape”

The Runaways – “Cherry Bomb”

Screaming Females – “Glass House”

Bikini Kill – “Double Dare Ya”

Sleater-Kinney – “Be Yr Mama”

Tribe 8 – “Neanderthal Dyke”

Babes In Toyland – “Sweet ’69”

Le Tigre – “Hot Topic”

Slant 6 – “Poison Arrows Shot At Heroes”

Mary Lou Lord – “Some Jingle Jangle Morning”

Emily’s Sassy Lime – “Mr. Moneybag$”

Autoclave – “Go Far”

Bratmobile – “Bitch Theme”

X-Ray Spex – “Art-I-Ficial”

Babes In Toyland – “He’s My Thing”

Lunachicks – “Bad Ass Bitch”

riot covers

PJ Harvey – “50ft Queenie”

Gossip – “Where The Girls Are”

Heavens To Betsy – “Me & Her”

Team Dresch – “Uncle Phranc”

Bratmobile – “Gimme Brains”

Sleater-Kinney – “I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone”

Bikini Kill – “Suck My Left One”

Sleater-Kinney – “Dig Me Out”

Bacchae – “Read”

Wet Leg – “Wet Dream”

Riot Grrrl Sessions – “I Eat Boys Like You For Breakfast”

Maya Jupiter – “Never Said Yes”

Lady Parts – “Bashir With The Good Beard”

The Linda Lindas – “Racist Sexist Boy”

Honeyblood – “You’re Standing On My Neck”

Tacocat – “Men Explain Things To Me”

BABYMETAL – “Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!”

Kate Nash – “Fri-End?”

7 Year Bitch – “Kiss My Ass Goodbye”

The Linda Lindas – “Oh!”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezIt5ZNJHN15UP-GdKW3huz

And here it is on Spotify:

Arachnophonia: Green Day “American Idiot”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Deisy (class of 2024) and features Green Day’s 2004 album American Idiot. Thanks, Deisy!

Green Day

American Idiot

Green Day - American Idiot

Green Day is a band that many are fans of and many have heard of. I remember going to my local dentist and waiting to be attended to when their infamous song “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” begins to play. Without fail, every year I would step into this dentist and the song would start playing on the radio. As time went on, I discovered the name of the song and eventually got into listening to the band and have since fallen in love with many of their songs. And I wonder, was this song such a prominent part of other people’s lives just as it was to me, or was I just exposed to it too consistently in that dentist room?

The band’s official beginnings started in 1989 as a group of teenagers in Northern California came together to create Green Day. Their most successful and biggest hit album, American Idiot, shook the world when it came out in 2004. This album contains songs like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams“, “Holiday“, and “Wake Me Up When September Ends“.

While this music may not be to everyone’s taste, it is certainly a genre that can allow one to feel free and youthful. Green Day was known as a band that empowered the youth and was not scared to point out the faults of today’s society. They are the type of band one listens to when trying to de-stress and feel that sense of freedom many young adults crave.

Currently, the Pearsons Music Library has a copy of American Idiot and other notable albums such as 21st-Century Breakdown (2009) and Dookie, which are available for loans or to simply listen to in our study rooms. If at any moment in the semester you feel like decompressing with some pop-punk, try giving Green Day a listen!

green-day-american-idiot-video

Parsons Playlists: Punk/Rock

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today we’re featuring a collection of punk/rock music curated by Music Library student assistant Deisy (class of 2024).

Sometimes, you just want to lay on the ground and let all the emotions run through you. At that moment you put on some of your favorite punk/rock bands to drown in your feels! This playlist was made with the intention to scream, cry, laugh, and contemplate life.

December - Neck Deep poster

“December” – Neck Deep

“I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” – My Chemical Romance

“Parachute” – Neck Deep

“Wish You Were Here” – Neck Deep

“Uprising” – Muse

“Supermassive Black Hole” – Muse

“Jingle Jangle” – Hot Hot Heat

“505” – Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys in concert

Alex Turner – lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys

“Lovers Rock” – TV Girl

“The Reason” – Hoobastank

“Dissolve” – Absofacto

“Take Me Out” – Franz Ferdinand

“When We’re High” – LP

“Wake Me Up When September Ends” – Green Day

“Cigarette Daydream” – Cage the Elephant

“Helena” – My Chemical Romance

“Racist, Sexist Boy” – The Linda Lindas

“Decode” – Paramore

“She’s A God” – Neck Deep

“rose” – ANNA inspi’ NANA

“Hash Pipe” – Weezer

“Island in the Sun” – Weezer

“Gold Steps” – Neck Deep

“She” – Harry Styles

“Through the Fire and Flames” – DragonForce

DragonForce (band)

And here’s a link to the full playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZexbDVo4qiKM2XXtgi_oByzl

Arachnophonia: My Chemical Romance “The Black Parade”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student worker Olivia (class of 2019) and features The Black Parade, the third studio album by American rock band My Chemical Romance, aka MCR. Thanks, Olivia!

My Chemical Romance

The Black Parade

If you would care to, imagine a flustered 13 year old girl who cut her own ragged side bangs, refused to wear colors other than red and black, and printed out pages and pages of My Chemical Romance lyrics to memorize before bed each night.

This was my reality in middle school. My parents hated it. I loved it.

MCR group

When I began listening to MCR, they had recently released their 2006 album, The Black Parade, a musical narrative telling the story of ‘The Patient’ who falls ill and dies, experiences the afterlife and reflects on the life he led. With the album came the platinum hair of Gerard Way (he had a different hair color for almost every album) and the peak popularity of the band’s career. The most popular song on the album, “Welcome to the Black Parade,” I played during my 7th grade piano recital, to my parents’ horror (ahh memories). The music video very accurately characterizes the theme, energy, and story continued throughout the album.

One of the things I love most about MCR is how they weave each album’s music into a crazy, creative and awe-inspiring narrative, and continue that narrative through music videos and live performances. It makes listening to their music an active experience. This was also demonstrated through their 2010 album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, which featured a corresponding comic book series published by Dark Horse as well as a full
character costume for each band member – and cherry red hair for Gerard Way.

MCR Danger Days

MCR Danger Days promo photo

You know I have every issue of that comic series in my room at home, by the way.

MCR comic art

The extent to which I immersed myself in The Black Parade, (along with all of MCR’s albums) has made such a lasting impact on me. Twelve years later and I still consistently listen to my favorite band from middle school – those years are impactful and to this day I have not felt the same connection to any artist or group as I felt and still feel to My Chemical Romance.

MCR Killjoys