Sleater-Kinney Settle into Formulaic and Diminished middle age.
Though many fans didn't seem to like their somewhat experimental/electronic 2019 release, The Center Won't Hold, I appreciate that they were trying some new things. While not all songs work, I think most do, and some are among their vital, intense and best work.
After the departure of long time drummer Janet Weiss, Path of Wellness followed in 2021. It finds them reverting to their more standard but somewhat mellower punk-ish ... read more
While a little uneven, most of the songs effectively convey the burning intensity of their previous work in a more electronic context courtesy of producer St Vincent. I think it's sad so many unfairly disparage this album, probably because it's a departure. But I appreciate that they take chances and experiment on this album, and somewhat surprisingly most of it works.
I guess the self-produced POW is the type of safe release we might expect from a middle-aged SK. For the most part that's not really a good thing since it mostly lacks the urgency of their best work, and the few songs that do pretty much follow the standard SK template. The rest of the album is sort of like a more tepid version of their much better, somewhat experimental album, The Center Won't Hold.
I'm not writing them off completely, but compared to the intense vitality of their best ... read more
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Recent Review Comments
On Northside's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"I don't think it's horribly boring, but it's definitely kind of boring and somewhat generic."
On Tom2323's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"I agree. Apart from about 2-3 songs, most of Little Rope seems very much like undistinguished indie rock."
On BaddieBaphomet's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"I think your take is fairly accurate, though I don't think it's very consistent. While it's an improvement on than Path of Wellness, both albums seem diminished compared their best work. While I don't think there's anything on Little Rope I dislike, there are only about 2-3 I'll listen to again. It's about what I expect of middle-age SK: competent, but fairly mediocre."
On Jak1410's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"Good review. I suggest their albums Dig Me Out, One Beat, The Woods, and No Cities to Love. They aren't vastly different, but they're more vigorous and the drumming is much more powerful."
On Aoaystheory's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"Not only Weiss's absence, but age might be catching up with them. They're both about 50. I'm 53 and hard as I might try, I don't have nearly the energy and enthusiasm I once did. Most artists peak in their 20s-30s, some even in their 40s, but there's usually a significant drop off after age 50. Sadly, SK doesn't seem to be an exception."
On TLtimelord's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"Yeah, I hate to say this, and while there are a few exceptions, since music requires so much energy artistic vitality seems to diminish from middle age onward. Unfortunately I think this is what we can expect from them going forward."
On qntnzzz's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"I agree. Unfortunately almost all artists eventually seem to succumb to middle age formulaic mediocrity. Unfortunately this album about as expected of a middle age SK. Unfortunately I think this is what we can expect moving forward."
On JP's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"I think 'lack of ambition' nicely summarizes its weaknesses. It's still SK, but a more feeble, tired version. Unfortunately at this point of their career this pattern seems likely to persist."
On Aoaystheory's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"Sadly, this might be who they are now. Diminished and no longer amazing."
On homuli's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"I agree. While still identifiable as SK it's a blander, less vital version. Unfortunately at this stage and age it seems like this is what we should expect if they continue."
On Aoaystheory's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"I agree. Both of their post Janet Weiss releases seem diminished to me."
On EldoubleU's review of Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope
"A sandwich without filling is a great analogy. While still SK, it sounds like a weaker, older version."
On seaofblasphemy's review of Sleater-Kinney - Path of Wellness
"Perfect Summary. The more standard songs are lethargic compared to the earlier work while the mildly experimental ones don't go far enough."
On Timbo's review of Sleater-Kinney - Path of Wellness
"I completely agree. I'm disappointed they mostly adhere to their modus operandi and play it safe on POW. While more consistent than TCWH, it's consistently bland save for maybe about 3 good to very good songs. Even if The Center Won't Hold is inconsistent, there are some great songs and I enjoyed hearing them try new things and somewhat leave their comfort zone. I'm disappointed they mostly adhere to their modus operandi and play it safe on POW. I wished they'd continued to explore new territory rather than make a mostly formulaic SK album."
On Spectrum_Pulse's review of Sleater-Kinney - Path of Wellness
"I agree. While The Center Won't Hold is somewhat inconsistent, I appreciated that they took chances and explored, and the songs that work are among their best work. POW consists of maybe 3 or 4 good to very good songs and about 7 mediocre, forgettable ones.
I would rather have seen them take more risks, even if they failed, than make something mundane and mediocre."
On Wasabi02's review of Sleater-Kinney - Path of Wellness
"Yeah, to me most of POW sounds like a more tepid version of their older work. Weiss' absence is glaring. It sounds sort of like a mediocre indie-rock band attempting to emulate vintage SK."
On Mohamedmahmoud's review of Sleater-Kinney - Path of Wellness
"Exactly. Most of the album is uninspired, generic SK. A month from now I'll probably have mostly forgotten about it."
On homotom's review of Sleater-Kinney - Path of Wellness
"Nice summary of their last 3 albums. No Cities to Love is great, The Center Won't Hold is adventurous and interesting but inconsistent, and POW is uninspired and mediocre."
On ItsNova's review of Sleater-Kinney - Path of Wellness
"While inconsistent, I think The Center Won't Hold is a more interesting, challenging, better album. Most of POW is like an inferior version of the earlier work; it's generic SK."
On BaddieBaphomet's review of Sleater-Kinney - Path of Wellness
"I think your review is spot-on. Though I think their previous album, The Center Won't Hold, is somewhat inconsistent I appreciate that they took chances and tried new things (probably at the behest of St Vincent). Even though a few songs don't work for me, most do, and some are among their best work.
Most of this record is safe, listless, and somewhat mundane. Even the few songs that work pretty much follow the standard SK template.. Maybe since this is their first self-produced album they didn't want to take many chances. I'm certainly not writing them off completely, but to me POW is largely uninspired. I do worry though, that age might be catching up with them as it eventually does with all of us."
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