Sleater-Kinney’s first album in a decade, No Cities To Love, doesn’t sound brand new. It sounds like an album you revisit in your attic after 10 years. It has a natural richness and grit that’s hard to come by in today’s music. Corin Tucker’s fierce, unhinged vocals are complimented by Carrie Brownstein’s unrelenting guitar style and Janet Weiss’ drumming that can only be described as a huge wall of sound.
No Cities To Love has an interesting style. The songs jump from very pop-oriented tracks, like “Hey Darling,” to darker, fiercer tones on “No Anthems.” The refusal to cling onto one style makes the album very versatile and accessible for new listeners. The strongest track on the album is “Bury Our Friends.” The entire song possesses this huge driving force with no intention of slowing down, thanks to Brownstein’s irresistible guitar hooks and Tucker’s chorus-chant. Lyrically, this track is the perfect comeback for the band. Sleater-Kinney is making it clear that they’re in it for the long haul when Tucker sings the chorus “Exhume our idols/Bury our friends/We’re wild and weary/ But we won’t give in.”
All in all, No Cities To Love certainly doesn’t need to rely on the band’s previous reputation for success. It’s a strong, energetic album filled with memorable tracks and catchy choruses. Sleater-Kinney came back to show us how indie rock is done.
