S-K

Sleater–Kinney

The Center Won’t Hold

Mom And Pop

I almost never give bad reviews, because it’s damn hard to make a living as a musician, let alone have the success Sleater-Kinney have had. And I am a long-time fan. I also never cry “sell-out,” because there is no such thing. Everyone needs and wants money so they can live properly. Anyone who says money is this, that and the other thing evil has enough money and power to afford to say it. This band hasn’t sold out at all, they just want payday.

Nevertheless, this is not going to be an altogether positive review. Let’s start with what’s good first. St. Vincent’s production is great. The band’s lyrics, politically and relationship-wise, are as sharp as ever. I like the way they’ve updated their sound, as I guess they felt they’d gone as far as they could with their old one. That’s not bad; nothing wrong with staying current.

It’s their idea of staying current that’s the problem. The band has made an early-to-mid 80s new wave album, and the 80s band they most resemble in tone and form here is the unjustly forgotten We’ve Got A Fuzzbox And We’re Going To Use It, A.K.A. Fuzzbox. Sometimes Fuzzbox sounds better than this. If this change of direction is why Janet left, I can’t blame her. There are better ways to be modern than this, and Corin and Carrie are too good guitarists to put their guitars down in favor of synths.

So take this review for what it’s worth, and approach with caution. As I say, this isn’t a bad album, but I wish it was better, and a lot more truly modern.

Andrea Weiss