Marie’s ARC Pick: Sleater-Kinney: The Centre Won’t Hold

OccultHawk · 08-16-2019, 02:56 AM

Our new queer princess the delightfully delicious Marie has chosen

Sleater-Kinney: The Centre Won’t Hold

**Marie Monday** · 08-16-2019, 04:42 AM

I also haven't heard it yet of course, I'm so exited! Gonna listen and review later today

**Marie Monday** · 08-16-2019, 03:16 PM

Ok, here we go. My first impression:
It all starts out quite strong and ominous. They’re good at making strong, bold opening statements. Hurry On Home is a nice follow up: and infusion of energy after the gloomy bombast of the first song. Carrie is at her best here: the song makes good use of both the goofiness and odd, sensual fullness of her voice. It is already clear here that SK is moving further towards pop, which lies at the core of what I think of the album. Sleater-Kinney has always been an acquired taste to average ears; with this album they might be trying to make their sound more immediately accessible. That’s fine in itself, but my worry is that by doing that in this particular way, they discard much of what makes them unique and interesting, especially the layered and intertwined guitars and singing (although the intertwined lyrics have been given up since the Woods), and the dynamic energy of Janet’s drumming. There’s still plenty of things that I like about the album though, for instance the unsubtle, dynamic opening of Bad Dance (the rest of the song does not live up to it, however), and Can I Go On is a good example of the poppy sound working for them. It’s clear, straightforward and catchy. I expected some politics, because it’s Sleater-Kinney, and indeed I suspect that RUINS is political. I’m prejudiced against political songs, but this one is not too bland or preachy, and I quite like the bombastic quivering chords.
In conclusion, they mostly still have their force and inventiveness, luckily. And if they choose to make simpler, more accessible music, they can make some damn fine pop. However, it causes them often to lose their special spark. Quite a good album, but not on par with their previous work.

OccultHawk · 08-18-2019, 09:00 AM

Yesterday I listened to several 2019 releases and if there wasn’t so much interesting stuff going on I wouldn’t be so ambivalent about this. Name recognition alone isn’t enough to elbow into my heart. They’re old now and they sound it. In general, the best of the Olympian scene was released on K.

I have some experience with Evergreen College and Olympia. I saw a lot of those bands live and drove up or down from either Portland or Seattle to check out the scene. Back then, all you had to do was walk around a college town and you’d be invited for a beer a bong hit a party. I did that in Boulder, Athens, Auburn and tried it more than once at Evergreen in Olympia. Back then everyone in Evergreen had the same dark green jacket and backpack. Simply not wearing the goddamn uniform kept you away from the kegs. The riotgrrrl scene was exclusionary like a high school clique. They weren’t even middle class. They were all from rich families and raised in very strict academic environments. They were really the feminist version of Brett Kavanaugh style top shelf school elitism and their exclusionary rich white makes right was cut from the same cloth. These were the types who turned their noses up at the people who washed their dishes and cleaned their toilets and they were so self-absorbed in their imaginary oppression that they didn’t even know what they were doing.

Except for Lois.

And notice Lois never really identified with their bs

**Marie Monday** · 08-19-2019, 01:17 AM

It's really interesting that you were there. I suspected the riot grrrl scene to be elitarist and exclusive, Carrie Brownstein als complains about that somewhere in hindsight. And of course there is Hole's song Olympia. I myself feel ambivalent about most things riot grrrl, but I still love much of the music, and definitely Sleater-Kinney. I'll listen to Lois later, I think I'll like it

Neapolitan · 08-22-2019, 11:13 PM

I don't care about politics in music. However music and politics do have one thing in common they are both forms of escapism. I really don't know, don't care too much about Grrrl Riot. I guess I overlooked most Grrrl Riot bands. I am not one to explore a sub-genre for the sake of it. However I do have an interest in all female indie bands. There are a few groups in the 90s. either all girl bands or female fronted bands that I liked e.g. Babes in Toyland or The Muffs (respectively).

My six degrees of separation from Grrrl Riot: I quickly scan what bands were part of that scene, and was surprised to see Jack off Jill listed as one (not that I know much about them, but I like their singer). The vocals/lyricist from JoJ was Jessicka and she later went to front Scarling.. I really don't know how Riot Grrrl JoJ were, I've seen other places where JoJ are considered as a "Riot Goth-Girl" group. Scarling. have their sound described as both Noise and Goth.

Scarling. - Crispin Glover

I've read where St. Vincent produced The Centre Won’t Hold. So that piques my curiosity. So far I don't like the vocals. The music's OK. I got to find time to give it a proper listen.

OccultHawk · 08-23-2019, 05:18 PM

Lydia Lunch is important

... and the muffs

OccultHawk · 08-23-2019, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elphenor

I love Lydia Lunch but she's gnarly No Wave
different from what I get from Bratmobile

Yeah. I get that. I was just kind of saying. The Riot Grrrl scene is pretty blurry to me. Even my memories of who I saw live Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Sleater-Kinney- it’s just drunken blur - I never knew one from the other honestly.

Beat Happening & The Go Team made a bigger impression on me

And Mecca Normal

And Tattle Tale

I need to iron it all out in my crazy old noggin. I got it all ****ed up lol

**Marie Monday** · 08-26-2019, 04:59 PM

It's also relevant to consider that only the first two SK albums are proper riot grrrl albums

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Yeah. I get that. I was just kind of saying. The Riot Grrrl scene is pretty blurry to me. Even my memories of who I saw live Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Sleater-Kinney- it’s just drunken blur - I never knew one from the other honestly.

I mean, these bands all sounded quite different, and during most of their career SK weren't even doing feminist hardcore punk. I like those Lois songs btw, especially the Zombies cover.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

I don't care about politics in music. However music and politics do have one thing in common they are both forms of escapism. I really don't know, don't care too much about Grrrl Riot. I guess I overlooked most Grrrl Riot bands. I am not one to explore a sub-genre for the sake of it. However I do have an interest in all female indie bands. There are a few groups in the 90s. either all girl bands or female fronted bands that I liked e.g. Babes in Toyland or The Muffs (respectively).

My six degrees of separation from Grrrl Riot: I quickly scan what bands were part of that scene, and was surprised to see Jack off Jill listed as one (not that I know much about them, but I like their singer). The vocals/lyricist from JoJ was Jessicka and she later went to front Scarling.. I really don't know how Riot Grrrl JoJ were, I've seen other places where JoJ are considered as a "Riot Goth-Girl" group. Scarling. have their sound described as both Noise and Goth.

Scarling. - Crispin Glover

I've read where St. Vincent produced The Centre Won’t Hold. So that piques my curiosity. So far I don't like the vocals. The music's OK. I got to find time to give it a proper listen.

I don't care much about politics in music either; at least, politics isn't really the reason I like riot grrrl punk. I like this Scarling song

Plankton · 08-27-2019, 08:32 AM

I'd give it a listen if there was a link provided.

08-16-2019, 02:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	Marie’s ARC Pick: Sleater-Kinney: The Centre Won’t Hold Our new queer princess the delightfully delicious Marie has chosen Sleater-Kinney: The Centre Won’t Hold __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

08-18-2019, 09:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	Yesterday I listened to several 2019 releases and if there wasn’t so much interesting stuff going on I wouldn’t be so ambivalent about this. Name recognition alone isn’t enough to elbow into my heart. They’re old now and they sound it. In general, the best of the Olympian scene was released on K. I have some experience with Evergreen College and Olympia. I saw a lot of those bands live and drove up or down from either Portland or Seattle to check out the scene. Back then, all you had to do was walk around a college town and you’d be invited for a beer a bong hit a party. I did that in Boulder, Athens, Auburn and tried it more than once at Evergreen in Olympia. Back then everyone in Evergreen had the same dark green jacket and backpack. Simply not wearing the goddamn uniform kept you away from the kegs. The riotgrrrl scene was exclusionary like a high school clique. They weren’t even middle class. They were all from rich families and raised in very strict academic environments. They were really the feminist version of Brett Kavanaugh style top shelf school elitism and their exclusionary rich white makes right was cut from the same cloth. These were the types who turned their noses up at the people who washed their dishes and cleaned their toilets and they were so self-absorbed in their imaginary oppression that they didn’t even know what they were doing. Except for Lois. And notice Lois never really identified with their bs __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

08-23-2019, 05:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	Lydia Lunch is important ... and the muffs __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

08-27-2019, 08:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	I'd give it a listen if there was a link provided. __________________ See location...