While I cannot comment on whether Sleater-Kinney still identifies with, in, or about the queer community, they’ve certainly played a significant role in the northwest’s queer adolescence. But with today’s birth of their 7th album, The Woods, the girls show they are most definitely grown.
Carrie Brownstein’s lead guitar skills have become unmistakable, and The Woods doesnt seem to be afraid to throw on the reverb and let her rip. The album even includes an 11 minute anthem, Lets call it love, that keeps the jam spirit alive, combining it with a punk rock style that produces and strange but interesting child. I wander and get lost in The Woods in a way that I never have in SKs usual urgency. If each album carries a distinct message, this release seems to say, Let go And yet, then Night Light kicks in with Corins haunting voice lilting over the guitar and you lose some of not all who wander are lost peace to the calm of unnerve. And, while the sadness of Jumpers is readily apparent, it is also oddly comforting as the two voices blend over staccato electronic sounds. The albums intro, The Fox is equally weird, if more apparently so as the guitar strings bend into off-key musings.
All in all The Woods is a surprisingly psychedelic trip through the thickly forested Northwest music scene. Im inclined to let my curiosity lure me into the shade but, while enticing, entering these mind-altering woods are is also a bit risky. Not everyone will have a good trip.
Special in-store signing tonight celebrating the new release at Music Millenium (801 N.W. 23rd at Johnson). 6 pm. They’ll be giving away tix to Portland shows as well…(correction: originally this said performance. oops!)
