New Sleater-Kinney Record
 

Since their debuts in 1995 and 1996, I think Spoon and Sleater-Kinney have put out the most consistently great records of any major indie band, with hardly a misstep for either. Well, that's changed. The new S-K record is terrible. I'm all for innovation through experimentation, but I find The Center Won't Hold to be derivative and boring. Carrie continues her cartoon-like delivery and the entire project lacks soul. The passion feels manufactured and I can see why Janet bailed. I'd like to say it's a "grower", but I know it's not. So sad.

Yeah not loving it. Oh well... there's a bunch of other great albums, including No Cities To Love

A month later and the new S-K still sucks. I've seen every S-K tour since 'Dig Me Out', but I just can't pull the trigger on tickets this time. A setlist featuring The Center Won't Hold isn't worth my time and money.

Jesus it’s not that bad.

Not brilliant, but fine.

Feeling some Kate Bush vibes at times. Title track hits.

Oh well.

Better than the Pixies, Weezer, Modest Mouse... blah blah

Wrooooong

Agreed. The new Pixies platter plays like a solid Frank Black album. Not 'Frank Black' or 'Teenager of the Year' level, but pretty freakin' solid.

Oh come on, that’s absurd.

I can’t believe I’m hearing this nonsense. New S-K is not as good as No Cities but it’s fine. Not bad by any means. New “Pixies” is more abject mediocrity.

Still wrooooooong. It's a great batch of tunes, performed in their distinct style. The SK is an overproduced mess and lacks signficant aspects which made them a great band.

Not to labour the point but... wroooong.

It’s crap and you’re delusional. Pixies are over, get over it.

And oh I forgot about those “significant aspects” ... now I’m convinced because I remember all those vague things are, like, not there or whatever.

New SK is not great but it’s nowhere near bad. And it’s a St. Vincent collaboration. The fuck was anyone expecting? For it to sound like Dig Me Out?

Change is hard, deal with it.

We don’t mind change, we mind suck.

For someone whose posts routinely contain hyperbole, you seem to not like hyperbole.

You ok, grumpy pants?

It's all been downhill since The Hot Rock anyway

I maintain that at the very least every album has been highly enjoyable with a bunch of interesting things going on. I probably find myself replaying All Hands On The Bad One the most. But The Hot Rock is wild

I’m grumpy is what!

Mmm... I think “all downhill” is pretty extreme. I mean, for us, maybe, but a lot of YOUTHS would say The Woods is their best album by far.

No Cities was a solid comeback.

This one is ... not the SK I love, but it’s not the SK I hate either. Diametrically opposed to post-Pixies “Pixies” in that respect.

It doesn’t suck. I mean, it just doesn’t. Well-produced, well-executes, well-played... Very much SK with a St. Vincent twist. Not amazing but not terrible.

I know you’re hurting because SK is effectively dead, and this was probably their last gasp, but in no way is it bad music. It’s just not what you want to hear from Sleater-Kinney.

Not really what I want to hear either, but I still like it.

This is not what’s a failure looks like.

See Pixies for that.

I've pretty much hated this music since the beginning (and before if Heavens To Betsy counts, since they drove me insane too), but I really do like how this situation hasmade it clear that drummers fucking matter and aren't somehow "more easily replaceable" than other members of a band. It's a big deal who sits on that throne.

She actually plays on the album but aside from 2 or 3 moments you can't tell because they've got her sounding like a drum machine.

But you're right, drummers matter a lot (in music that isn't 'produced' of course).

i know most people here worship the holy string fetish, but in rock and jazz, drums have always been more número uno than arnold himself (for me anyway lol)



sorry geetar aficionados, es la verdad



throne indeed