Today's installment to my part of the Listen to this Once blogosphere is the 1997 album "Dig Me Out" by the foremothers of the riotgrrrl movement Sleater-Kinney. Sleater-Kinney like most bands started rather inconspicuously when then couple guitarist Carrie Brownstein and guitarist/lead vocalist Corin Tucker took a post graduation trip to Australia. Toward the end of their trip they took to writing and recording what would eventually shape up to be their debut album. Upon returning Corin and Carrie began to play out their compositions with various musicians before solidifying their permanent lineup with drummer Janet Weiss.Dig Me Out retains the urgency and emotion of SK's earlier discography while sounding much cleaner and more musically proficient thus hinting to what was to come from this beloved indie rock band. Corin Tuckers unique voice howls about everything from relationships, anti-traditionalism, and abolishing gender roles. The vocals although cringe worthy to some remain one of the most passionate cries to ever be heard from the underground.
Sleater-Kinney would continue to release universally acclaimed records well into the new decade and are often heralded as one of the defining and most successful indie rock bands of the 90's/early-mid 2000s. Unfortunately for us, Corin Tucker would eventually concentrate most of her efforts towards motherhood leading the band into an indefinate hiatus in 2006. Regardless their influence remains and continues to be heard today by the likes of Mika Miko, Screaming Females, and many others. Dig Me Out is the perfect introduction to the S.K. discography and incredibly worthy of gracing your ears at least once. "We just want to say that we're not here to fuck the band. We are the band."
-Daniel Marc Cafferty
Personal album highlights:
- Dig Me Out
- The Drama You've Been Craving
- Dance Song 97
Dig Me Out - if you enjoy the album please support the band and your favorite independent record store by purchasing a copy.
"The Drama You've Been Craving" live @ CBGBs 1997
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