Sleater Kinney - No Cities to Love 2015

`Taking a drive up I-5 in Washington State from Oregon, you'll eventually hit exit 108.  If you take exit 108, it'll be a straight shot into Olympia Washington,

The coolest thing about 90's music was that it saw another great evolution in music.  Gone were the New Wave synth pop productions knows as 80's music.  Gone are the artists trying to reinvent their craft from the Classic Rock era, as they became relegated to adult contemporary versions of their earlier selves.  In it's place were a new breed of artists influenced by the sounds created over the 10 years prior.  This group was eager to do things differently and rebel against the over-stimulation of the 80's.  They and their parents grew weary of music that basically by the end of the previous decade, sounded the same.  They wanted something alternative.

Enter 90's music.  Never have so many sub-genres of music ever came together before.  Here in the states, part of the weariness in music brought something much needed to the musical landscape.  It tried to bring rock music back.  After 10 years of softening pop and, a slight rise of teen-pop, and growing popularity of hip-hop, small factions of garage artists were longing for a nostalgic sound that just didn't exist anymore.  Enter Alternative rock.  (And all it's variations.)  

Last month in the middle of the winter, West Coast "Riot Grrrl" rockers Sleater-Kinney released their 8th album, their first in 10 years.  No Cities To Love.  I stumbled on this surprise late last year while listening to Sirius XMU.  It was a real shocker since even the DJ's didn't know what that single meant.  After 2005's The Woods, and the departure to solo projects by all members of the group, everyone thought that one of the landmarks of of that genre was just gone to pasture.  Fortunately for us, all they did was grow up.  

Their new album is a much more refined, more focused less angry take on what made them great.  This new album is less less about the anarchy and more about being gritty.  This album has shades of Hole, with a little bit of Bikini Kill for energy.  Their message is still one of empowerment, and their focus is definitely parts political, just a lot less 90's.  The single most important part about this whole album is it's timing.  With the modern debates of our time and the new movements within feminist circles, this album couldn't have come sooner.  Listen to No Cities to Love, A New Wave, and my favorite Bury Our Friends.  

A New Wave - Official Video

You will have no problems whatsoever scoring this album on vinyl.  Bonus, you'll get the mp3 code in it as well.  As much as it pains me to say this, your best bet is to visit an Urban Outfitters, you can probably score it around $15...  Unless you're me, and have an awesome network of vinyl addicts at your disposal.  

Bury Our Friends

Next week, more music from the 90's..  WOOF! (Finally)