Sleater-Kinney
The Hot Rock
(Kill Rock Stars)
Neither the radical departure promised by
those who heard its outtakes nor the creative stagnation claimed by the backlash crowd, S-K's
fourth instead represents the slow, steady maturation of a band that was damn near fully formed
in the first place. Tucker still shouts like she's exorcising demons that would keep Buffy the
Vampire Slayer up at night, Brownstein's guitar work still sears and shivers, but even the
rockingest numbers suggest an ambiguity they probably couldn't have fathomed just four years ago.
And on "The Size of Our Love," probably the loveliest and most chilling tune they've
ever recorded, they get death just right in a little over three minutes. Maturity just might end
up suiting them. If it does, we ain't seen nothing yet.
Rating: 9
See also: Cadallaca.
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