Sleater-Kinney share new song ‘Untidy Creature’
Barrelling towards the release of a brand new album, 1990s grunge legends Sleater-Kinney are truly back. On new effort ‘Untidy Creature’, the instrumental chaos that first captured the world’s attention is still intact, roaring with a studied carelessness that captivates.
Wrapped up in a modern and mature package, the latest tracks from the band perfectly build on the legacy they already hold. Coming up in the bustling Olympia, Washington music scene that housed the Kill Rock Stars label who signed Elliott Smith, Nirvana and Bikini Kill as well as Sleater-Kinney, that circle is often credited for the development of ‘90s grunge.
The band’s attitude was always one of DIY candour and experimentation. It’s nice to know that in 2023, that spirit is still there, as ‘Untidy Creature’ seems to house the same energy. From the huge opening riff to the vocal breakdown, it sounds like two excited musicians feeling their way through in the best way. Rather than returning for commercial purposes, you can feel the visceral edge of creative experimentation in the track, waxing and waining through moods.
The track came together naturally, with the band stating, “‘Untidy Creature’ was the first song we wrote for Little Rope, although we didn’t know it at the time; we weren’t certain we were even working on another record.”
“We also worried it had come too easy, the song featured two elements that come very naturally to Sleater-Kinney: a big guitar riff, an even bigger vocal,” they added. However, societal moves changed their relation to the song, continuing, “But as the year wore on, and our choices and bodily autonomy shrank, our feeling about the song changed. It became a gift, somewhere to put our darkest fears, and our deepest hopes. We sometimes feel trapped or angry, and yet still we breathe.”
“You build a change but your measurements wrong / cause I’ll find a way and I’ll pick your lock,” the band sings on the track. A powerful statement of fight and resilience, it also stands as a perfect statement for the energy Sleater-Kinney have always had with a real can-do, won’t-back-down spirit.
‘Untidy Creature’ arrives as the third teaser single for their upcoming eleventh studio album, Little Rope, arriving on January 19th, 2024.
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