Sleater-Kinney is coming to town April 2 and April 3 to play a couple of shows at the Showbox. This is the perfect opportunity to take a look back through their discography and find out where “Little Rope,” the band’s latest full-length album, fits in the influential group’s history.
11. Path of Wellness
This is the band’s first full album without long-tgime drummer Janet Weiss and her presence is sorely missed. It isn’t a bad record; it just lacks the punch and attitude of previous S-K records where Weiss was holding things down behind the kit.
Key tracks: “Method,” “Worry With You”
10. The Center Won’t Hold
The follow-up to the band’s excellent comeback record doesn’t disappoint, but it might forever be remembered as the album as Janet Weiss’ last stand. Produced by St Vincent, the record is a solid entry into the Sleater-Kinney cannon, but it doesn’t hold up to most of what’s in the band’s catalog.
Key tracks: “The Center Won’t Hold,” “Hurry On Home”
9. One Beat
The record is worth checking out for the angular riff that makes up the backbone of “Oh!” alone. And overall it is chock full of excellent songs and the rocking riffs that S-K is known for.
Key tracks: “One Beat,” “Oh”
8. The Hot Rock
It’s a brief record, clocking in at under 45 minutes, but it showcases some of what makes Sleater-Kinney so great. Lots of guitars, yowling vocals and strong words make this a great record.
Key tracks: “Get Up,” “Burn, Don’t Freeze!”
7. Sleater-Kinney
This is Sleater-Kinney in their most raw form. The band’s self-titled debut is a hungry band on fire ready to make a statement and not caring whether you want to listen to what they have to say because they’re going to say it anyway and say it loudly.
Key track: “Be Yr Mama,” “A Real Man”
6. Little Rope
While Sleater-Kinney has been a band for decades, this record has the sound of a band starting fresh. Released earlier this year, the group’s latest isn’t a return to form but instead is the band turning into a new form.
Key tracks: “Hell,” “Don’t Feel Right”
5. Call the Doctor
This is the record where it feels like the chemistry between Janet Weiss, Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein seems to really click. The band is near its peak performance throughout this classic, underrated Sleater-Kinney album.
Key tracks: “I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone,” “Call the Doctor”
4. No Cities to Love
After breaking up in 2006 the band saved us from life without Sleater-Kinney by releasing a comeback record in 2013. Not only did it feel like all was right in the world again because there was new S-K in the universe, but the new S-K was really, really good. It’s one of the band’s best efforts and beats just about any “comeback” rock record ever released.
Key tracks: “No Cities to Love,” “Price Tag”
3. The Woods
For the final album before the band announced its temporary breakup, they reunited with producer Jonathan Goodmanson to create a killer record tinged with classic rock vibes. Those vibes are full of punk rock energy swagger too, which makes this the band’s most unique album and arguably its best.
Key tracks: “Jumpers,” “Entertain,” “Modern Girl”
2. All Hands on the Bad One
One of the band’s earlier albums, you owe it to yourself to have this one in your collection. Part passion, part punk rock, part fury and 100 percent awesome.
Key tracks: “You’re No Rock N Roll Fun,” “Milkshake N Honey,” “All Hands on the Bad One”
1. Dig Me Out
Key tracks: “Dig Me Out,” “Words and Guitar,” “Little Babies”
There’s a reason there’s been a book written about this album. It’s because it’s flat-out flawless. There’s no filler, all killer on this masterpiece.
