All-female powerhouse band Sleater-Kinney returns after nearly a decade-long absence with a fittingly brash album that doesn’t skip a beat.
All-female powerhouse band Sleater-Kinney returns after nearly a decade-long absence with a fittingly brash album that doesn’t skip a beat. Not even One Beat (I’ll stop with the album title jokes at some point, I promise). But let’s give a little background on No Cities To Love before we jump into the nitty gritty of what makes it so great.
When the band announced their hiatus in 2006, it seemed unlikely they’d return. 11 years of touring had run the trio ragged, and frontwoman Corin Tucker had two small children to care for, making the chance of a quick reunion unlikely.
To make matters more complicated guitarist/vocalist Carrie Brownstein became a bonafide TV star, thanks to her co-starring role on IFC’s hit sketch comedy show, Portlandia. Thrusting herself into the television spotlight only served to make Sleater-Kinney even more popular, turning many people (including this reviewer) onto the band. Even side projects such as Wild Flag, which featured both Brownstein and Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss, could do little to satisfy the growing fanbase.
Then in October the unthinkable happened: a white vinyl single appeared on the doorstep of several prominent critics. Sleater-Kinney was back and they’d just dropped the first track, the ballsy and inspired “Bury Our Friends.” After nine years and some change, the ladies were back with the same ferocity that had powered them in the first place.
It’s truly impressive that, 20 years after their self-titled debut, they still have the ability to capture that raw energy that captivated audiences to begin with.
There’s nothing about this album that sounds like a reunion album; this isn’t a rehash of old themes or sound. Yes, the energy and spirit are there, but everything else is new–or at least altered enough to create the illusion of growth.
This is a band who has prided themselves on reinvention, from the basement girl-punk of their debut to the walloping hi-fi noise of The Woods. This is how you do a reunion album without disappointing a loyal fan base (looking at you, Pink Floyd).
No Cities to Love isn’t nearly the departure from their sound that The Woods was, and that’s for the best. While The Woods was an interesting experiment in heaviness, the unabashed exuberance that made you want to dance to their sound had always been a staple beforehand. To say they’ve recaptured that tone this time around is an understatement.
Hell, if you don’t believe me, just check out this video of various fanlebrities [“fanlebrities”? Really? I guess I’ll allow it–ed] singing along to the title track.
Comfortably undefinable as always, Sleater-Kinney dives right in with “Price Tag,” complete with Tucker’s signature banshee-wail of a voice. The guitar bites in and doesn’t let up; a cold reminder of what they’re here to say, it’s reminiscent of St. Vincent.
The playful banter of Tucker and Brownstein’s vocals is gone, and perhaps no track exemplifies this better than “Gimme Love.” Tucker’s vocals expand to fill the space left by Brownstein, and Brownstein in turn punctuates with quick riffs. The track “Fangless” is far from fangless, and easily stands out as the best of No Cities.
Here we see the closest thing to reconciliation of the old dynamic: Brownstein and Tucker trading wails, accompanied by assured instrumental backing. This is the anthem, the one you’ll belt out at 3 am on that long ride; the lyrics “But I know that you made me, sick for you like a rabid dog/And your lies rearranged me, broke me down but I’m not undone” echoing on the empty highway.
Contrary to what the track “No Anthems” implies, this is an album made for singing along to, no matter how esoteric the lyrics may be at times.
In short, this is one of the best records of 2015–and yes, we’re only 20 days in. If you’re a longtime fan, then there’s virtually nothing not to appreciate here, and if you’re a new fan then what the hell have you been doing with your life? Get off your ass and pick up this album.
