Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out CD

From Olympia, Washington comes Sleater-Kinney, a hard-rocking, stripped-down, punk trio. No, this ain't 1979, but lead singer Corin Tucker does count punk godmother Patti Smith among her major influences, and it shows in this band's often-savage sound. Tucker also claims a debt to Aretha Franklin, and that too comes through in her full-throated vocal attack. Tucker has range on top of range, and she uses her powerful, vibrato-saturated pipes to wail about topics ranging from failed relationships to parents from hell.

The songs are edgy, revved-up aural attacks. Drums churn along at circa-1979 speeds, guitars are fuzzy and fast, and whatever "licks" exist are quick and to the point. Note that this is definitely not another "girl group," even though all three members happen to be of the female persuasion. And if you like your rock and roll fast, furious and feminist, with no frills and lots of angst, this disc is for you.

Leaner and more intricate than their earlier releases, this record is remarkably confident and mature, the vocals are even more ferocious, the melodies are even more infectious and the ideals are even more passionate. A Kill Rock Stars Records release.

Recorded at John and Stu's Place, Seattle, Washington in December 1996 and January 1997.

Personnel: Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein (vocals, guitar); Jessica Lurie (saxophone); Janet Weiss (drums, percussion).

Recording information: Seattle, WA (12/1996-01/1997).

Photographer: John Clark .

Sleater-Kinney: Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein (vocals, guitar); Janet Weiss (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel: Jessica Lurie (saxophone).

Rolling Stone (5/15/97, p.112) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...Although they may shatter guitar conventions a la Sonic Youth, embrace full-blooded emotion like PJ Harvey, write chunky hooks on a par with Kurt Cobain and embody the verve of America's DIY underground...[Sleater-Kinney] has forged a niche all its own..."
Spin (9/99, p.128) - Ranked #21 in Spin Magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s."
Spin (1/98, p.86) - Ranked #3 on Spin's list of the "Top 20 Albums Of The Year."
Spin (5/01, p.109) - Ranked #19 in Spin's "50 Most Essential Punk Records".
Spin (6/97, p.117) - 9 (out 10) - "...From start to finish, DIG ME OUT aims for this place of undiluted emotion, where girlishness yields to the rage and joy of women who feel no need to charm..."
Entertainment Weekly (4/25/97, p.71) - "...The guitar squall of Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein proves they can play with the boys, but it's their interlocking vocals--sometimes mesmerizing, sometimes dizzying--that propel the album's best songs..." - Rating: B+
Alternative Press (7/01, p.96) - Included in AP's "10 Essential Women's Rock Albums" - "...Corin Tucker was one of the most melodic riot grrls..."
Option (5-6/97, p.127) - "...a bad-ass rock 'n' roll band confidently struttin' its stuff....Only Fugazi and the late Team Dresch have made punk sound this good recently....Look out world--Sleater-Kinney has arrived."
Melody Maker (10/25/97, p.51) - "A giant of a record....what's happening here probably has more to do with the future than the past....[but] as your ears adjust, the songs start to take their own addictive pop shape."
Village Voice (4/15/97, pp.62-63) - "One reason you know they're young is that they obviously believe they can rock and roll at this pitch forever. Whatever the verbal message of their intricate, deeply uptempo simplicity...it's overrun by their excited mastery and runaway glee..." - Rating: A
NME (Magazine) (10/18/97, p.57) - 8 (out of 10) - "...a collection snappy punk/pop moments...resembling The Go-Gos on crystal meth....a Hole lot better than you-know-who."