Now a duo, Sleater-Kinney sound rougher, rawer than their last album and yet Path of Wellness is more relaxed and subdued. The tenth, self-produced record is a comforting escape from all the chaos.
Sleater-Kinney, the West Coast based punk and indie band have had quite a resurgence since their hiatus in the late 2000's. Following up with a massively energetic and solidifying comeback record No Cities to Love back in 2015 (one of that year's best), the band looked like they were coming into a new return to form. In 2019, the band hooked up with St. Vincent as the leading producer to create The Center Won't Hold. On paper this makes sense: give punk rock veterans to Annie Clark's mind, you'll get something special. The result was a mixed bag of experimentations, some of which went well and some that did not. It's a respectable record seeing the band actually try new styles and sounds. I actually enjoyed the majority of it too. But... The Center Won't Hold truly sounded like a St. Vincent record and not a Sleater-Kinney record. They didn't sound like themselves and it certainly felt like they didn't have as much creative input into it as I would've hoped. Overall the lack of freedom and creative differences led to the departure of longtime drummer Janet Weiss, who was the pivotal third member into why the band is so great to begin with. Her drumming is an essential part to the group and on The Center Won't Hold... we didn't really get that.
Of course because of this, I was initially skeptical about what the now duo Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker would do next. Thankfully, the duo did not choose St. Vincent this time around and decided to self-produce their new album themselves. Path of Wellness, the band's 10th studio album, definitely sounds more like them. It's a back to basics record while also featuring new elements of sounds including percussion and different guitar textures. The album refreshingly sounds like an album that Stephen Malkmus would've made back in the day; it sounds like an old school indie rock and slacker record from the 90's and early 2000's. Don't worry though, there's still that same punk aesthetic that Carrie and Corin have within in their DNA. It's rougher, rawer than their last album and yet it's more relaxed and subdued rock. It can be still noisy and in your face but chill enough to play these songs at your local neighborhood BBQ. It's a comforting escape from all the chaos.
Lead single "Worry With You" is the album's best track and an ear grabbing one. It has some memorable guitar melodies, progressions, and catchy vocal lines from Brownstein. It is for sure the track that takes the Path of Wellness: taking the wrong turn, getting lost and living in the moment. "High in the Grass" has a pleasingly nice nice twang in her tone with Corin's voice and guitar licks. The title track features numerous cowbells which are scattered throughout the record. I can't say I've heard this before from them but it's cool to see them try some new things (insert SNL more cowbell sketch joke here). "Method" includes some groovier keys that you'd hear on a 70's funk record. The pacing of "Shadow Town" is satisfyingly brooding and dark. "Complex Female Characters" pleasantly breaks down gender roles and stereotypes.
I ended up quite pleased with Path of Wellness. This album is miles better than The Center Won't Hold. They were trying way too many things at once on that record but now they've kept their approach simple and to-the-point. It's certainly the most mellowed and smoothed out Sleater-Kinney record yet; the duo seem like they needed a break to reflect and relax from all the negativity and noise surrounding the world. They actually did a good job self-producing in which the songs sound dimensional, heavy and full of personality despite the songs' overall simplicity and generalness. It's nothing crazy new for punk or rock itself but Sleater-Kinney find themselves subdued, rejuvenated and ready for whatever will come at them in the future.
My Rating: 7 / 10
Favorite Songs: "Worry With You," "High in the Grass," "Shadow Town," "Path of Wellness"
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