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

No Cities to Love was fine, The Center Won't Hold outstanding as a palate cleanser: if they needed a sound for a post-Weiss project, THIS was it.

The last album was a non-entity.

Will probably be used as the end-credits song of the 3rd to last episode season 2 of the next hit drama. It will be good for that sort of thing. Oh man, that episode was nuts! Things are really ramping up. What a cliffhanger. Anyway. Oh is the next episode up? Oh good, yeah click next episode.

I heard "No Cities" once, don't remember a thing about it. I don't think I ever heard "The Center Won't Hold." Didn't even know "Path to Wellness" existed, tbh. In as much as I need Sleater-Kinney in my life these days, I certainly don't need these albums. More bands should break up.

That said, Wild Flag should get back together.

I like No Cities and The Center, both have some songs I'd rescue for a S-K playlist. But it's all starting to feel like '00s U2 or something.

I have more thoughts, but right now after listening again on Spotify, the algorithm has thrown Cat Power's "He War" at me, and damned if that one isn't one of the best fake Sleater-Kinney songs EVAH.

Absolutely forgot the last album even happened, that feels a bit sad. This is alright. I always love to hear Corin's voice but I miss when they sounded nimble and off-kilter, hopping from foot to foot. Got genuine enthusiasm for some of the stompy, swaggery moments but it's not my favourite mode, especially paired with glossy production, so I haven't really loved anything since they got back together.

I see the temptation to pin any falling off on Janet leaving, Carrie getting more famous and taking more control etc, but this all probably set in with parts of One Beat, and the moments of brilliance on that album plus the sonic changes on the Woods made it harder to see coming. Just realised I'm essentially pining for an iteration of this band that hasn't existed for 20 years so feels churlish to complain - might still try to catch them in November when they're here.

Eh, those albums still exist, and just because the band pulled a Pixies doesn't negate them. In fact, the new records (in both cases) make those formative albums albums sound more alive than ever.

i think in the end I really only love call the doctor and dig me out, and that's enough. impeccable albums, both nearly perfect. hard for anyone to live up to those.

No Cities To Love: Coming back without missing a beat, exactly the album you'd have expected from them in 2015, breakup or no breakup (the two Corin solo lps are a effective bridge).

Center Won't Hold: The songwriting is very experimental, demands the production to create a through line, er holding things together from start to finish. A definitive example of a veteran act challenging themselves and succeeding. "Hurry On Home" is All-Time, Top 5 S-K.

Path of Wellness: This album wouldn't have existed but for the pandemic. Because of those circumstances, Corin & Carrie went the Steely Dan route, bringing in various ringers as conditions would allow. Ultimately not the best way to make this band's music. Starts strong, ends well, but gets lost and confused in the middle.

"Hell": As it initially unfolded, I wanted more of the fast chorus, which was delivered as it went along. Cautiously optimistic about the album. Who's drumming?

Little Rope Tracklist:

01. Hell
02. Needlessly Wild
03. Say It Like You Mean It
04. Hunt You Down
05. Small Finds
06. Don’t Feel Right
07. Six Mistakes
08. Crusader
09. Dress Yourself
10. Untidy Creature

One of the Six Mistakes is placing that as track #7.

https://consequence.net/2023/10/sleater-kinney-little-rope-2024-tour-dates/

The follow-up to 2021’s Path of Wellness is billed as “one of the finest, most delicately layered records” in Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein’s prolific discography. But in its complex, ambitious instrumentation is an unimaginable tragedy: Last fall, Brownstein received a call from Italian embassy staff with the news that both her mother and stepfather had been killed in a car accident during a vacation.

Some of Little Rope had been written at that point, but as Brownstein and Tucker brought the material to the studio, all the music they put to tape became imbued with grief. With each vocal harmony and guitar riff, the album navigates loss — not just its initial pang, but how it transforms us and our subsequent relationships forever.

Wow, hadn't heard about that. How sad.

I feel like one of their secret weapons was corin/carrie trading vocals mid-song and/or singing two things at the same time. Wish they would get back to that more.

^^That's part of what sinks most of the covers on the DMO tribute. Imagine JEFF TWEEDY handling both parts of "One More Hour"! <JEFF TWEEDY>

xp otm x10000 that was my first love

New Song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp2z1cL6qoU

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