Little Rope

Sleater-Kinney

Little Rope

Loma Vista

January 19, 2024
Web Exclusive

By Matt the Crow

Sleater-Kinney no introduction needed. As you know, they are synonymous with the riot grrrl movement and have been entertaining us with an amazing variety of post-punk with soaring guitar riffs and a sassy attitude since their self-titled debut in 1995. If nothing else, their eleventh studio album, Small Rope, it's a statement about their staying power. You don't survive in the music business as long as Sleater-Kinney has unless you have talent and you're doing something right.

Little Rope is the band's second album recorded after his departure Longtime drummer Janet Weiss in 2019 and it contains most of what you'd expect from a Sleater-Kinney album: infectious, grimy pop melodies strategically tucked between passionate, taunting guitars and emotionally charged vocals. But while they may have lost a drummer, they haven't lost a beat either. Working with renowned producer John Congleton, the duo of Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar) and Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals) have created an album of intense, hard guitar rock with just the right twists of pop wit.

The album comes to life with the first single and album opener, “Hell”, which sets the scene with crunchy guitars and sharp licks. It follows “Needlessly Wild” and is very similar to The Kills with a dynamic bass line and a catchy hook. Other standouts include the radio-friendly second single “Say It Like You Mean It,” whose infectious chorus is both anthemic and memorable, and the lively “Don't Feel Right,” with a light pop groove and noisy guitars. The rage continues beyond the standout tracks with renewed layered orchestrations, lively guitar work and Tucker's soulful vocals with her signature cosmic wail.

Little Rope partly influenced by the death of Brownstein's mother and stepfather in a car accident while on holiday in Italy and the grief that followed. With the 10 tracks of the disc, Sleater-Kinney have successfully captured the complex emotions of both our difficult present times and the delicate process of grieving, with taut songwriting combined with energetic guitar textures, earnest vocals and pop undertones. Some might even call it a return to form. (www.sleater-kinney.com)

Author Rating: 8/10