Man, I was just starting to get into them and now they break up. I picked up All Hands On the Bad One for $1.50 at the library, and after one listen I'm already falling in love with it. It's really sad to see this, especially right after they put out what is probably my favorite hard rock album ever in The Woods.
-------------------------------------------------- Anatomy to me is a homesick stomach and a broken heart
Posts: 4291 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
Which do you think is their best, ericg? And is there any one album that is widely considered their best? Just from what I've seen on this board, I get the impression that every single one of their albums has been critically acclaimed.
-------------------------------------------------- Anatomy to me is a homesick stomach and a broken heart
Posts: 4291 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
All their stuff is pretty critically acclaimed. I don't think you can really go wrong with any S-K album. I'm not sure if any one of them is widely considered their best, but a lot of people seemed to take to The Woods, so imagine that does rank pretty highly. My personal favorite is probably Dig Me Out, followed closely by The Hot Rock (although I think I may be in the minority on the latter).
EDIT: Oh, and One Beat is pretty badass too.
----- Use all your well-learned politesse or I'll lay your soul to waste.
Posts: 5633 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 19 June 2005
My fave is One Beat, but I honestly believe the dyed-in-the-wool fans go for Call the Doctor and then Dig Me Out. I don't think there's a single one which didn't make my Top 10, but shit, we males are so fuckin' anal.
"Naked Woman, Naked Man Where did you get that nice sun tan?"
Posts: 12944 | Location: Behind the Orange Curtain | Registered: 14 May 2004
I second the motion for Dig Me Out, The Hot Rock, and The Woods as the best, I don't think I could choose out of those. I never really cared for One Beat, it's got some interesting songs for sure, but there's something stiff sounding about it that I just can't place.
This thread has got me pretty excited, because no one has mentioned All Hands On the Bad One among their favorites, and I think it's a pretty nasty record. And thanks for the recommendations, fellas.
-------------------------------------------------- Anatomy to me is a homesick stomach and a broken heart
Posts: 4291 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
AHOTBO is good, I just wouldn't call it their best. "Ballad of a Ladyman", "You're No Rock N' Roll Fun", and "Leave You Behind" are all great tracks. One thing that stands out about that album is the production. It seems a little cleaner and glossier than the rest of their stuff.
----- Use all your well-learned politesse or I'll lay your soul to waste.
Posts: 5633 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 19 June 2005
After listening to One Beat and The Hot Rock I have to say that the former is awesome and the latter not so much. One Beat is better than All Hands On the Bad One and quite possibly as good or better than The Woods. The only problem I have with it is that the first song is awful. After that it's solid though.
The Hot Rock sounds a lot different than their other albums, but I find the more intricate guitar work and mellow sounds less than inspiring.
Up next: Dig Me Out
-------------------------------------------------- Anatomy to me is a homesick stomach and a broken heart
Posts: 4291 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
Originally posted by RavingLunatic: The Hot Rock sounds a lot different than their other albums, but I find the more intricate guitar work and mellow sounds less than inspiring.
It is mellower than the rest of their albums (which I thought you of all people would appreciate RL- aren't you the guy that called the Yeah Yeah Yeahs "too hardcore"?), but I think the guitar work is one of the most inspired parts of the album. Between the unique guitar work and the vocal interplay between Corin and Carrie, I think The Hot Rock is the album that really establishes a "Sleater-Kinney sound" and sets them apart from your typical indie rock fare.
----- Use all your well-learned politesse or I'll lay your soul to waste.
Posts: 5633 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 19 June 2005
Originally posted by ericg75: It is mellower than the rest of their albums (which I thought you of all people would appreciate RL- aren't you the guy that called the Yeah Yeah Yeahs "too hardcore"?)
Yeah, normally I'm like that. However, I also tend to like albums from the latter half of indie artists catalogue, so I guess that tendency won out this time.
-------------------------------------------------- Anatomy to me is a homesick stomach and a broken heart
Posts: 4291 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
Originally posted by RavingLunatic: After listening to One Beat and The Hot Rock I have to say that the former is awesome and the latter not so much. One Beat is better than All Hands On the Bad One and quite possibly as good or better than The Woods. The only problem I have with it is that the first song is awful. After that it's solid though.
The Hot Rock sounds a lot different than their other albums, but I find the more intricate guitar work and mellow sounds less than inspiring.
Up next: Dig Me Out
You don't like "One Beat"? I think it's great woah oh oh.
Posts: 1652 | Location: Philadelphia, PA | Registered: 15 September 2004
Can someone please explain their attraction to One Beat. I have all the Sleater-Kinney stuff and I definitely think that One Beat and All Hands on the Bad One are the least essential, especially the former. If you're into the record I'm not knocking it necessarily but it's definitely my least favorite. I've tried going back and listening to it several times but to me it lacks the fire and immediacy of Dig Me Out and The Woods and where The Hot Rock made personal turmoil seem honest and real, One Beat just comes off as another bad post-9/11 record from an otherwise outstanding group. When I saw them on the tour for that record they were awesome, but I still cannot get into the album itself, maybe it's the production. I'm not sure.
Can someone please explain their attraction to One Beat.
It sounds good to me.
Well said.
I could try to drum up some analysis or ratiocination, but ultimately, this is what it always comes down to. Very rarely can I delineate the reasons I like something.
-------------------------------------------------- Anatomy to me is a homesick stomach and a broken heart
Posts: 4291 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
Fair enough. It's rather sad about the breakup. But you know I think I would rather them disband than make a record they don't think is on par wih the rest of their catalog. I think I'm going to try and go see them in Louisville, KY at the end of the month. Anyone else going to one of the final shows?
