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Seven albums is quite a large number for any band. Not too many will even stick around this long, and many of those who do we wish would have stopped around number three. This is why it always amazes me when anyone can still release such consistently great albums so far along into their career. In order to pull this off, they have to evolve their sound somewhat, but also can’t completely abandon it either. The Woods, Sleater-Kinney’s followup to 2002's One Beat and their outstanding Sub Pop debut, is a prime example of how this can work.

There’s been a lot of talk about this album being louder and darker than anything else the band has released to date. Well, after listening to the first few seconds of the opener “The Fox,” it can be seen why this is such an appropriate description. The song contains some ridiculously heavy guitar and drumming, and of course, the unmistakable vocals of Corin Tucker shrieking above all the noise. This will certainly frighten away some first-time listeners, as well as confuse some long-time fans. However, the song begins to sound better and better with each repeated listen. Things return to more familiar Sleater-Kinney territory with the next few tracks. “Jumpers” is a standout of these songs featuring some seriously dark lyrics over the bouncy dual guitars of Tucker and Carrie Brownstein. Tom Waits once said “I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things.” I can’t think of a better way to describe this or many of the other songs on this album.

The bittersweet and laid back “Modern Girl" provides an excellent halfway point for The Woods, only for things to kick right back into full force with the album’s powerful single, “Entertain.” The song displays some wonderfully scathing lyrics from Brownstein regarding the state of music today. Those who are less than thrilled with the current “nü-wave” trend will undoubtedly appreciate such lines as “you come around looking 1984 / you're such a bore, 1984 / nostalgia, you're using it like a whore.” It’s followed by the more upbeat “Rollercoaster,” which has cowbell, so you know it’s awesome. Mention certainly must be given to the album’s eleven-minute track “Let’s Call It Love,” a length that is previously unheard of by the band. Sure, it’s a tad indulgent, as is nearly any song this long, but it is pulled off successfully and never really gets to the point of boring. It also demonstrates how impressive the musicianship is on this album. The classic rock influences really shine through here, especially with Janet Weiss’ extraordinary drumming. The crushing guitars then seamlessly fade into “Night Light,” The Woods' haunting closer.

In such a testosterone-driven music scene, a new Sleater-Kinney album is always a breath of fresh air. In all honesty though, male or female, it doesn’t matter who the fuck is singing what when it sounds this good.



People who liked this also liked:
Minor Threat - Complete DiscographyDescendents - Milo Goes To CollegeOperation Ivy - Operation IvyThe Clash - London CallingThe Replacements - TimJawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge TherapyAlkaline Trio - GoddamnitRefused - The Shape of Punk to ComeThe Weakerthans - Left and LeavingThe Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!



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    Posted by bytheslice on 2007-08-14 21:29:33
    My Score:

    One of the best bands ever. "Dig Me Out" is straight up badass, "Hot Rock" is awesome, and the rest of their catalog shreds. More people should own their albums.

    Posted by There_are_peas on 2007-06-11 03:57:48
    My Score:

    Utterly brilliant. Reassures me that not all of what is being produced today is useless noise (actually they have split up now). The Fox is one helluva track to start with.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at 1:14 PM (EDT)

    This is the best album that's been reviewed on this site. This is the best band that's been reviewed on this site. Scratch that... This is the best band ever.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 8, 2005 at 7:45 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    the more i listen to it, the more i like it.
    excellent live show, too.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 9, 2005 at 5:20 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Nothing wrong with indie loving dykes, you twat

    "Sleater Kinney - Music for Indie loving dykes of the world."

    Posted by StephNJ on 2005-06-12 21:37:48
    My Score:

    I love this album! It has the intensity of the first album but the maturity of a veteran album. My favorite songs are "The Fox," "Jumpers," "Entertain," "Let's Call it Love," and "Night Light."

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 6, 2005 at 3:12 PM (EDT)

    come on guys...why rip on this album when you could be ripping on something like the new finch or my chemical romance?

    people are such chumps!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 6, 2005 at 9:56 AM (EDT)

    -----
    Posted by Joe_The_Gurl_aka_Sam on 2005-06-03 03:35:08

    the girl who sings it..kinda has a cracked out voice..and it sorta sounds like country...not my style...it may sound good at the beginning of the songs..but blah!

    -----

    Dude if these girls sound like "country" to you, let me know what kind of country music you've heard, because this shit is awesome !!

    Best album of the year (so far) !!!

    bdmj

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 6, 2005 at 7:36 AM (EDT)

    Albums fucking boring

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 6, 2005 at 6:33 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Album's fucking stellar!!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 6, 2005 at 4:39 AM (EDT)

    Albums fucking shitty

    Posted by Nachohat on 2005-06-05 23:13:06
    My Score:

    Album's fucking awesome.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 5, 2005 at 12:01 PM (EDT)

    haha www.punknews.org....www.mtvnews.org

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 5, 2005 at 2:47 AM (EDT)

    Sleater Kinney - Music for Indie loving dykes of the world.

    Posted by ElVaquero on 2005-06-05 01:18:29

    most reviews said this shit was heavily sounding like shitty classic rock bands (but they said it was in a good way). shit i don't want shit like that.

    Posted by CallingLondon on 2005-06-04 13:35:21

    (that was in response to "I heard this shit is supposed to be like classic rock. Count me out."

    Posted by CallingLondon on 2005-06-04 13:34:44

    ah, yes, the genre that is "classic rock". some of you people crack me up.

    Posted by fistchode on 2005-06-04 04:09:46

    the seymour a&b is the best there is...

    I bought today from the whalley a&b.. it's not what I expected.. but it's pretty good.

    Posted by gladimnotemo on 2005-06-04 00:08:35
    My Score:

    So, I downloaded this since I couldn't get any of the streams working. The other SK stuff I've heard ("One Beat", I think) was pretty boring, but this stuff is pretty damn good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 10:50 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Album of the year (so far). This album sounds like your in the studio with them. Janet's drums are phenomenal!! SOME OF THE BEST DRUMMING I HAVE EVER HEARD!! I just wish they would come to Michigan so I could see this shit live!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 9:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Id also like to add that this has some great production. The drums sound so full and live.

    Okay Im done.

    -!GreenVandal!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 9:49 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I never heard this band before (mainly because of a overzealous and annoying acquaintance that worshipped them) but I just heard that song "entertain"...and wow. I think I just had my mind blown. I really didnt expect this band to be THIS good. Very very impressed. And its rare that I hear a female drummer this great...and the vocals, god I love this.....im sorry, im gushing.

    Definetly check this out.

    -!GreenVandal!

    Posted by thefineprint on 2005-06-03 18:24:36

    for Sleater-Kinney new comers, All Hands On The Bad One is a way better starting point than this album. I dunno, this is isn't really doing it for me. One Beat was better than this one too.

    Posted by hungryjoe on 2005-06-03 18:04:34

    I don't have a problem with A&B...in fact the Seymour store was one of my favourite stores in Vancouver...but it doesn't make it east of Winnipeg. There's an HMV next door, but I refuse to shop there for reasons that even I don't remember.

    Posted by Ollywood on 2005-06-03 17:47:12

    For all of you trying to figure what they sound like,
    go here

    www.sleater-kinney.com/dowloads

    Posted by fistchode on 2005-06-03 17:29:01

    I don't know if you are against larger stores or not, but A and B has had it for a while now. Maybe you don't have the glorious A and B sound wherever you live?

    Posted by hungryjoe on 2005-06-03 16:35:30

    Everything I've read (Pitchfork, Exclaim, and now this) makes me want to hear this even more. Damn you Sub Pop and your poor Canadian distribution. I'm still waiting for Orange Monkey to get this in...

    Posted by ElVaquero on 2005-06-03 15:32:26

    I heard this shit is supposed to be like classic rock. Count me out.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 2:28 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    manomanoman... this album is fucking fantastic. mines came with a pretty sweet live dvd too.

    it rocks really fucking hard.

    oh and their sound is akin to riot grrll bikini killish music but it's less bratty and more thought out.

    god damn that primal yell of "Land Ho" on the opener is fucking killer.

    Posted by bannedinct on 2005-06-03 13:25:24
    My Score:

    sickboi - really good loud indie rock, its sort of hard to pin down.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 1:02 PM (EDT)

    Can anyone make a rough comparison to these guys? I've never heard em.

    -sickboi

    Posted by lou on 2005-06-03 12:04:29
    My Score:

    good review for a good album.

    Posted by gypsymazzurco on 2005-06-03 10:37:40
    My Score:

    This is a great album. One Beat was awesome, this is even better, more challenging. Plus, the way its produced reminds me of Raw Power by The Stooges. At low volumes it still sounds like your speakers are blown. I love it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 10:12 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This is the only record that I was looking forward to this year that actually met / exceeded expectations.

    - Kirby

    Posted by elliot on 2005-06-03 10:05:32
    My Score:

    it's crazy how similar this review is to the one i wrote and sent in. you say a lot of the same things i did.

    this album rules hard, so much props to those S-K girls for dropping it like it's hawt.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 9:41 AM (EDT)

    "think this is worth buying on a whim?"

    i almost bought this last night at best buy with a $5 off coupon, but at the last minute i made the safe choice with the license to drive dvd. i probably should've gotten the album, since i won't see it for $7.99 ($12.99-$5.00) anywhere else.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 7:15 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    fantastic album this.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 4:15 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Solid, solid album. "Jumpers" will be in my mixtape for best songs of 2005. You can be sure of that.

    Ramo

    Posted by Joe_The_Gurl_aka_Sam on 2005-06-03 03:35:08

    the girl who sings it..kinda has a cracked out voice..and it sorta sounds like country...not my style...it may sound good at the beginning of the songs..but blah!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 2:47 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I liked some of there earlier albums that i've heard but i really don't like this album, and didn't like one beat too much...is something wrong with me.?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 at 1:50 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    converted many people who had not gotten into them previously.

    alot of metalhead, oddly enough.

    which is a great achievement for them.

    solid record.

    wyzo

    Posted by fistchode on 2005-06-03 01:47:00

    I will also buy it on a whim tomorrow... along with some queers and mtx albums.. oh blowing money is fun

    Posted by joeg on 2005-06-03 01:29:42

    think this is worth buying on a whim?

    -i think so.

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-06-03 00:53:05
    My Score:

    Havent listened to the whole record yet, but the single ("Entertain") is great, I'll be chacking the rest out for sure.

    Posted by Kenjamin on 2005-06-03 00:50:51

    think this is worth buying on a whim?

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-06-03 00:44:47

    This is going to be on a loooooot of top 10 lists come December. I can't go anywhere without reading some new praise of it.

    I'll have to give it another try, as the one song I heard might've just been overwhelmingly loud as its intended.

    Posted by joeg on 2005-06-03 00:44:30

    Sleater Kinney never disappoints. I need to pick this up soon.

    Posted by ubershep on 2005-06-03 00:43:42

    One of the year' s best.

    Posted by shindo on 2005-06-03 00:43:27
    My Score:

    This record is excellent. One of my favourite of the year so far.

    -adam