Sleater Kinney / Wild Flag / Quasi / related bands

[VinylGuy]

yeah, SK sound is still there. Specially in the vocal arrangements.

I love the way The Dog/The Body is arranged, vocally. That bridge!

But I really just adore the way Carrie sings, especially the verses. The way the words fit (sometimes jaggedly) in the melody. The sentiment is hits hard for me, too. But it's really the way the voices use the words and melody that chokes me up. And man, does that song choke me up. I've gotten weepy every time I've listened to it.

yeah, thats a good example of this album being very very interesting in the vocal delivery.

[epilogue]

It's somewhere in the middle for me. The vocal arrangements are still there, but the music is hit or miss. Sometimes it is too sparse or missing the interplay that is a staple of their previous work. Other times it is absolutely there, with a new sound (synths, crunchy modulated guitar, etc.).

I think this is probably right. But being unfamiliar with most of their work, it's not an issue for me the way it is for you and trag. But I totally understand why you guys feel that way.

[VinylGuy]

i love most of their work, and this one feels fresh. A step forward. Maybe a lot of fans wanted The Woods 2? i dont know.

[epilogue]

I think it can be difficult when an artist does something that you really respond to and enjoy for a long time and then they do something different in a way that leaves out or changes or even disguises the things you liked most about their art. I totally understand that side of it. Personally, I've never been much for that kind of thing. I never wanted any of my favorite bands to repeat themselves. I'd honestly love for Pearl Jam, for example, to do a record like Center.

[Kevin Davis]

It's not that their musical personalities aren't still discernible (Carrie's certainly still is), but for me it's one of those things where all skill sets just aren't transferrable across all mediums, i.e. the same unrefined, affected vocal mannerisms that work great in bratty, fast-paced, minimally produced punk rock aren't equally effective in a mid-tempo, heavily produced pop song. By the time I was through listening to the new songs last night, I found myself wondering how I could ever stand hearing Carrie sing again; there were handful of songs I found so grating I couldn't even finish them. But then a video of S-K performing "A New Wave" on Letterman came up, and what she was doing totally fit, even though she wasn't really doing anything that fundamentally different. I think closed-minded resistance to change only explains a portion of the backlash against this album: This does not feel like a band naturally moving forward and confidently reasserting itself; it feels like a band who got back together after a long time apart, realized they sounded exactly like they did before they split up, and then very self-consciously overcorrected. I admire their intent, but I don't think they pulled it off.

As an aside, the Pitchfork review for this album was written by Caryn Rose. I wonder how much of S-K's current fanbase is just reformed PJ nutsos who saw them open the "Riot Act" tour.

[surfndestroy]

I think it can be difficult when an artist does something that you really respond to and enjoy for a long time and then they do something different in a way that leaves out or changes or even disguises the things you liked most about their art. I totally understand that side of it. Personally, I've never been much for that kind of thing. I never wanted any of my favorite bands to repeat themselves. I'd honestly love for Pearl Jam, for example, to do a record like Center.

I want artists to evolve but once the length between releases gets over two and especially three years, the listener doesn't hear a evolution. They end up hearing the result of two or three evolutions. It's no longer a case of growing with the band but taking jumps with a band. That is difficult if during the 4-1/2 year gap your tastes evolved in different directions. It becomes more of a high school reunion and I don't feel bad if listeners want to rehash old times.

[epilogue]

It's not that their musical personalities aren't still discernible (Carrie's certainly still is), but for me it's one of those things where all skill sets just aren't transferrable across all mediums, i.e. the same unrefined, affected vocal mannerisms that work great in bratty, fast-paced, minimally produced punk rock aren't equally effective in a mid-tempo, heavily produced pop song. By the time I was through listening to the new songs last night, I found myself wondering how I could ever stand hearing Carrie sing again; there were handful of songs I found so grating I couldn't even finish them. But then a video of S-K performing "A New Wave" on Letterman came up, and what she was doing totally fit, even though she wasn't really doing anything that fundamentally different. I think closed-minded resistance to change only explains a portion of the backlash against this album: This does not feel like a band naturally moving forward and confidently reasserting itself; it feels like a band who got back together after a long time apart, realized they sounded exactly like they did before they split up, and then very self-consciously overcorrected. I admire their intent, but I don't think they pulled it off.

Man, I love when you post.

Anyway, I won't argue with your reaction to the record. But I will say that aside from that I disagree with your take here, articulate and appreciated as it is. I'm hearing a very different album. And it's working like a charm on me. I agree that not all skill sets are transferrable across all mediums. That's a solid point and probably plays heavily into why a lot of people are with you on this. Obviously, that's just as subjective as any of this. It works for me. Your last point is where you really lost me, though. I don't know the band or their minds. But your take there feels way off to me. But what do I know? You could be right.

[epilogue]

I think it can be difficult when an artist does something that you really respond to and enjoy for a long time and then they do something different in a way that leaves out or changes or even disguises the things you liked most about their art. I totally understand that side of it. Personally, I've never been much for that kind of thing. I never wanted any of my favorite bands to repeat themselves. I'd honestly love for Pearl Jam, for example, to do a record like Center.

I want artists to evolve but once the length between releases gets over two and especially three years, the listener doesn't hear a evolution. They end up hearing the result of two or three evolutions. It's no longer a case of growing with the band but taking jumps with a band. That is difficult if during the 4-1/2 year gap your tastes evolved in different directions. It becomes more of a high school reunion and I don't feel bad if listeners want to rehash old times.

Totally. That's one of the interesting things about experiencing this first hand as someone who hasn't gone through all of that. It's like I'm someone's date to the reunion, you know? So rehashing old times that I wasn't a part of isn't particularly interesting but I totally understand why people do it and want to do it. I'm trying to keep up and stay engaged but mostly I just want to talk about what's happening right now.

[tragabigzanda]

Top 10 maybe?
Hello Morning
Close Captioned
The Kill
Place/Position
Do You Like Me?
Latest Disgrace
Recap Modotti
Nightshop
Break
Life & Limb

I'd maybe bump Life & Limb for Epic Problem

[epilogue]

As an aside, the Pitchfork review for this album was written by Caryn Rose. I wonder how much of S-K's current fanbase is just reformed PJ nutsos who saw them open the "Riot Act" tour.

You know, it's funny... the only reason I've heard of S-K is because of Pearl Jam.

[Monkey_Driven]

It's not that their musical personalities aren't still discernible (Carrie's certainly still is), but for me it's one of those things where all skill sets just aren't transferrable across all mediums, i.e. the same unrefined, affected vocal mannerisms that work great in bratty, fast-paced, minimally produced punk rock aren't equally effective in a mid-tempo, heavily produced pop song. By the time I was through listening to the new songs last night, I found myself wondering how I could ever stand hearing Carrie sing again; there were handful of songs I found so grating I couldn't even finish them. But then a video of S-K performing "A New Wave" on Letterman came up, and what she was doing totally fit, even though she wasn't really doing anything that fundamentally different. I think closed-minded resistance to change only explains a portion of the backlash against this album: This does not feel like a band naturally moving forward and confidently reasserting itself; it feels like a band who got back together after a long time apart, realized they sounded exactly like they did before they split up, and then very self-consciously overcorrected. I admire their intent, but I don't think they pulled it off.

As an aside, the Pitchfork review for this album was written by Caryn Rose. I wonder how much of S-K's current fanbase is just reformed PJ nutsos who saw them open the "Riot Act" tour.

Well said KD. This point is the decision I'm facing right now. Do I think they pulled it off? Right now I say they somewhat did, but I'm not sure if I will feel the same months from now.

[tragabigzanda]

[epilogue]

Do I think they pulled it off? Right now I say they somewhat did, but I'm not sure if I will feel the same months from now.

I'm really excited to see how this grows/changes for me. I'm an obsessive person, so it makes sense that it's all I want to listen to right now and I'm devouring it. But will it end up being something I reach for often? Or will it just fade away for me and I'll never want to hear it again?

I feel like it's sparked a Sleater-Kinney phase. I think this is going to kick off a love affair. Going back and revisiting No Cities last night was such a joy. If this is the record that makes me a full fledged fan, well then I'll probably always have fondness and enthusiasm for it.

[verb_to_trust]

Yeah, and I will say that while I think this record is a dud, I'd be very interested to hear if they continued down this path with a different producer.

Women you've slept with that can also produce don't just grow on trees.

[epilogue]

Oh hey... One Beat was released on this day in 2002. Look at that. I should definitely listen to it.

[bodysnatcher]

Interesting Fact: One Beat also describes how fast it takes Durds to masturbate while listening to the new S-K album

[epilogue]

Interesting Fact: One Beat also describes how fast it takes Durds to masturbate while listening to the new S-K album

AL

[tragabigzanda]

[bodysnatcher]

i've listened to this album twice: once on shitty laptop speakers, and once on a Sonos speaker that was in another room. giving it a spin now with proper headphones.

[Monkey_Driven]

CoS: Ranking Every Sleater-Kinney Album from Worst to Best

Hot Rock is too high, but this feels about right.