Sleater-Kinney is a rock band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1994. The band was formed by Carrie Brownstein, and Corin Tucker, and included Janet Weiss on drums from their second album to their previous output, The Center Won’t Hold. They formed out of the ashes of previous Riot Grrrl bands Heavens to Betsy and Excuse 17. Their latest album Path of Wellness is released on Mom + Pop Records (their second on this label), and is the first album since Call the Doctor to not feature Janet Weiss on drums.
Path of Wellness is a solid indie-rock album that contains traces of their Riot Grrrl past. It’s a thirty-nine minute collection of tightly composed pop-rock songs that vacillate between powerful guitar-driven rock and self-serious social critique.
The album is new territory for the band as it’s both self-produced and features a rotating cast of supporting musicians to fill the gaps that only having two guitarists/singers creates. Their previous album, The Center Won’t Hold, was produced by art-rock artist St. Vincent, and showcased a departure from the band’s previous distorted sound. This album, in a way, feel like them reclaiming their indie-rock roots.
In a way this creates an uneven album. Their first single, “Worry With You,” is a true Sleater-Kinney song which transitions into the chill “Method,” complete with Carrie Brownstein’s signature intonation. On the other hand the album stumbles further down the list with “No Knives” and “Complex Female Characters.” “No Knives” feels like an out of place artifact from their last album with St. Vincent. “Complex Female Characters’ ” lyrics sound like an imitation of the brazen feminist lyrics of songs past.
Overall, it’s an unmistakable Sleater-Kinney album that showcases their punk rock roots, with a nod to where they’re headed, wherever that is. Path of Wellness is available on streaming services such as Apple Music, while physical copies can be obtained through your local record shop, or Rough Trade.
The Seattle Sound 