Path of Wellness

Sleater-Kinney - Path of Wellness
Critic Score
Based on 22 reviews
2021 Ratings: #544 / 753
User Score
Based on 232 ratings
2021 Rank: #910
Liked by 6 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
The Independent

Tucker and Brownstein are two of the coolest, most complex women in rock. Imagine Killing Eve in audio form. They’re still that kick-ass. That sexy. That much fun. Put this album on your to-listen list, pronto.

83
Entertainment Weekly

Despite the weight of expectation, reinvention, and continuity, Wellness marks a fine new chapter for Tucker and Brownstein.

80
DIY

For the most part ... what ‘Path of Wellness’ signifies is Sleater-Kinney pulling away from their past, towards an era likely to lean heavily not just on their pop sensibilities, but on the move beyond the old push-and-pull relationship between the now-duo.

80
Exclaim!

Combining the uncontaminated brawn of 2004's The Woods with the hip indie sensibilities of their early LPs, Sleater-Kinney have finally relieved their all-encompassing crowd-pleaser with the sonically pleasing Path of Wellness.

80
Rolling Stone

On Path of Wellness, Sleater-Kinney sound like they’re regrouping after a period of loss and isolation, taking stock of what remains.

80
Mojo
There are no easy answers, but the questions it asks, the disquiet it pays witness to, make for a deep, powerful and satisfying album.
75
A.V. Club

Taking full control over the recording process seems to have strengthened Sleater-Kinney’s experimental resolve. And the songwriting on Path Of Wellness emphasizes eclectic, improvisational compositions over tight three-minute anthems.

73
Paste

What Path of Wellness lacks in sonic urgency, it makes up for with a vintage classic-rock swagger that livens up the material considerably.

70
The Young Folks

Their ability to bounce off each other to produce musical magic remains as indisputable as ever on Path of Wellness. They still have the knack for choruses that come rushing in like an unexpected yet euphoric wave.

70
Northern Transmissions

While the decades long career of Sleater-Kinney has been mostly up, rather than down, it’s nice to hear, even through an album misstep and the departure of one of the core members, that the band still sounds so exciting.

70
Clash
At times inspired, ‘Path Of Wellness’ isn’t perfect. . . At its peak, however, ‘Path Of Wellness’ is a riot, one that underlines Sleater-Kinney’s hallowed status while providing a continual challenge to the idea of them as a ‘legacy’ artist.
68
Pitchfork
On their first self-produced record and first in over 25 years without drummer Janet Weiss, Sleater-Kinney find pleasant comfort and not much else with down-the-middle rock tunes.
60
The Observer

The Path of Wellness is best when Sleater-Kinney muster anger, humour and playfulness – all qualities their last album had in spades, incidentally.

60
NME

This is ‘Path of Wellness’’ biggest pitfall – what could’ve been a savvy dissection of seeking out connection during a surreal year instead see them go straight down the line.

58
Beats Per Minute
Sadly, even if totally removed from all expectations and the shadow of the previous drama, it’s clear that the Sleater-Kinney of 2021 have lost… something. Call it heart, call it ‘the magic’, call it instinctively sharp punk drums – something’s missing here.
40
Loud and Quiet
At very few points do we hear a melody strong enough or a line incisive enough to cut through the thicket of classic rock tropes and muddy arrangements and take us somewhere genuinely thrilling.
BaddieBaphomet
50

While I enjoyed their previous album, it did end up putting Sleater-Kinney in a rough spot that made people question the future of the band. A change in sound and the split of longtime drummer Janet Weiss made people expect the worst before the album was even released, and the record being pretty inconsistent cemented these attitudes. However, with a new record on the way and it being produced by the duo instead of St. Vincent (who I think unfortunately got more blame than deserved), it was now ... read more

BGL13
64

pride month day 11

i didn’t really have high expectations for this album seeing that i didn’t enjoy the lead single “worry with you” or the album before this, the center won’t hold. luckily, even if this isn’t one of sleater kinney’s best albums, it still was way better than i expected. there are a few acoustic songs on this which is a direction SK hasn’t really explored before and i think it worked pretty well. there are also more poppy songs ... read more

MasterCrackfox
74

It's now been more than a quarter century since the inception of Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker as Sleater-Kinney, and their most recent project is their first without longtime drummer Janet Weiss since their 1997 breakout Dig Me Out. A lot of these relevant pieces, among others, might have longtime fans of the indie rock outfit anxiously anticipating possible failure on Path of Wellness, hoping to avoid the pitfalls of their 2019 album The Center Won't Hold. Those fans should go ahead and ... read more

binarycosmos
71

Sleater Kinney is not the same without Janet Weiss; I think it would be wrong for anybody to dispute that, but I do believe the Sleater Kinney fanbase, as a whole, views their post No Cities to Love work too harshly. While their artistic peak is very much behind them, much enjoyment remains.

ScoopTime
50

I hate to be so negative upfront, but if you didn't like the direction Sleater-Kinney was going after their return in 2015 then you shouldn't even be getting in this deep. This album already off the bat makes The Center Won't Hold seem like a much more fleshed out project compared to this very bare and dry Indie Rock and Garage Rock mixed project. This is a perfect example of a nothingness album, doesn't really do a whole lot and feels like the safest project they could have possibly cooked ... read more

teleportzz
48

Yeah nope this is where they lost me. This album is really boring despite me trying my best to like it. The first few tracks are promising, but then it nosedives. The lyrics aren't as compelling and they lost their talent for strong hooks here.

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Track List

Year End Lists

#27/The Independent
#73/Uncut
#88/Albumism
#98/Rough Trade (UK)
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Added on: May 11, 2021