Sleater-Kinney - The Center Won't Hold - August 16th

Seeing them tonight. Liked the new song on first listen

OMG Gerri! <3

Song sounds kinda toned down for S-K

One More Hour <3 <3 <3

Really glad I went to that, I hadn't seen them in 23 years. They played a warm up gig at a venue I used to see punk bands like GBH and Conflict at when I lived in London. It sold out in minutes obviously. So much better than seeing them at the Roundhouse where they're playing on Friday which is like 5000 people Vs 250.

I wasn't into the post-reformation stuff that much but it made sense live mixed with the old stuff. They played that new song they released today last.

They covered Low covering them and dedicated it to Mimi which was touching for a few reasons

What's the current live band looking like, personnel-wise?

They had a 3rd guitarist, drummer and keyboard player with them

Thanks! Sounds like they're keeping the setup from the post-Janet tours.

"Say It Like You Mean It" on Kimmel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvPna_wBRYM

I've not been paying too much attention to the new stuff but the lack of Janet is super apparent here!

By the way before anyone says how sick they are of hearing that sentiment, let me reiterate that I've not been paying attention. I am merely aware that it's probably the sort of thing that's getting old to hear about. Too lazy to scroll up and check though sorry.

classic internet post

my best work

tbh I was very unhappy about what happened with Janet. I did wonder if something else was going there because I read an interview with Carrie recently when she said she just wanted Janet to be well. Is Janet... unwell? I don't know.

I really didn't like The Centre Won't Hold much, but they were great live recently and I liked the new songs live. So I think I'm back on the bus

Another New Corin Song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hUUGdb2qoE

Going out on a limb and saying if you didn't like the prior two singles, you probably won't be into this one either.

"Small Finds" might be my favorite S-K track since "Hurry On Home".

cautiously ...... i like this album, I think.

album cover is reminiscent of böc

ok I listened to this album 2x today already and I do like it. maybe I should revisit the last one, which I never gave much attention.

this rules. tho I've really liked all the recent albums.

"cautiously" I like this album has been our MO since 2015

I have no idea how I missed Path of Wellness, I probably gave it a perfunctory listen on release but going back to it now it’s great. New one is solid so far too. Center is still their post-reunion best though I think

Wow. POW is the only innocuous, forgettable S-K album I own. I can't hum a single line.

hmm, it's very catchy

I really like this one, way more than expected.

this is way better than any other of the new ones

I don't think it's better than No Cities to Love, but better than the last two by a comfortable margin.

oh yeah but that's a janet record, sort of consider them two different bands was talking about post janet

center was also a janet record, which is easy to forget. it just isn't very good.

she played on it but had no creative input iirc

that's the one that made he quit on the whole st vincent deal

Lindsay Zoladz , NY Times critic in part on new album:

. The new LP has more oomph and darkness than the band’s self-produced 2021 LP “Path of Wellness” and more emotional resonance than its mechanical 2019 effort “The Center Won’t Hold.” But even in its wildest moments, when compared to the band’s mightiest work, “Little Rope” sounds unfortunately diminished and curiously restrained.

The Center Won’t Hold was the album I wanted after No Cities to Love: a break from their sound. I still listen to it.

i can't stand it tbh

I hear ya.

okay on to the positive - "Say It Like You Mean It" - wow what a chorus (yr contractually obligated to refer to a chorus like this as "soaring"), incredible hook and melody

I'm intrigued by this one. It's kind of a bummer how their reputation basically collapsed after JW left (I think that break was possibly even more acrimonious than she let on in her occasional interviews on the subject), but they were too great to be dismissed based on that alone and i'm always ready to give them a chance.

this one doesn't have that feeling where you're trying to talk yourself into it or "oh isn't this an interesting direction" i just like it like it

yeah the album feels more natural, they don't appear to be trying to compensate for anything or really 'trying something new', it's just got a bunch of good songs.

saw them last night in SF at the Warfield (they are playing again tonight,but it was moved to the Regency because I think these two shows undersold). I didn't have high expectations even though I do like this album, mainly because the show I saw after Center was so underwhelming. But they were really good. It's obviously not 1999 anymore and I'm no longer 28 and neither are they, but this was as good as I could have hoped for.

the crowd was fucking annoying as shit though, I seem to have stood right in the area of a bunch of entitled babies. LIke when I came in, some guy actually grabbed my arm and moved me out of the way because I guess I blocked his view. I almost punched him. Later, near the end of the show, when I cautiously took out my camera to take a quick video, some lady grabbed me and said "I can't see a fucking thing if your phone is there" Ok yeah, that's been happening to me all night. She also grabbed my son when he walked by her and said "oh no girl, uh uh" because he briefly blocked her line of sight for four seconds. wtf is wrong with everyone.

yeah ppl dont know to be at shows anymore

when i was at margo price at the fillmore this woman was fully complaining that people were moving into her spot and i’m like it’s not yours, the crowd moves, so you do too, just fucking adjust and grow the fuck up

Little Rope Deluxe Edition: https://pitchfork.com/news/sleater-kinney-announce-little-rope-deluxe-share-video-for-new-song-watch/

New Song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWcvPJadBb0

I picked up a copy of The Center Won't Hold and gave it a good listen, cranking it up on the stereo, and was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. I tried listening to it when it came out, albeit streaming on a computer, and I couldn't get into it. I just agreed with the backlash among so many fans, but since then I've come across enough positive dissenters and re-evaluations that I figured I'd give it another chance someday. Glad I did.