Customer Reviews

Dig Me Out

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Recently I met with some friends who were unfamiliar with the music of Sleater-Kinney. I decided to buy them an album so they could decide for themselves. I chose Dig Me Out; the choice seemed obvious to me. "One More Hour" is my favorite S-K song ever; "Turn It On," "Words and Guitar" and "Not What You Want" are among their greatest-ever rockers; "Little Babies" makes a great singalong. They have never made a bad album, but this one is the best because 1) it's the first one with Secret Weapon drummer Janet Weiss, which all by itself makes this better than what preceded it; 2) Corin and Carrie were still doing the "let's sing two different lyrics at the same time" thing that works so well in this band, which makes it better than what came after (they've gradually reduced the amount of times they do this); 3) it has more great songs than any other album by any other band since I can't remember when.

Wow... I've never seen such extreme disagreement on the quality or importance of one band since the Sex Pistols. This always happens when a group lays their sweat and blood and passion on the line, refusing to sweeten the pill for popular consumption. But love them or hate them, S-K continues to cut through today's banal soundscape like a red-hot bullet. We've endured 40+ years of male-dominated rock, with every pose & persona flogged to death. Does the world need another Robert Plant or Eddie Vedder clone? Must our young women continue to choose soulless cheezcake queens like Britney Spears & Spice Girls as role models?

There's only one way to rock-- as if your life depended on it. S-K makes this clear on the first track, the aural equivalent of crawling out of one's own skin. "Turn It On" chugs along to a nervous-breakdown climax, and just when you think the singer might actually lose her sanity-- "do i sound crazy?/ well i just might"-- it's all suddenly over. The twin guitars of "Heart Factory" mimic heavy industry. A common criticism of this album is that the lyrics are weak. The music does most of the talking anyway, so who's not listening? "Little Babies" is a delicious slice of Sleater humor... hey, once you've sliced & diced the world to bloody bits, what can you say but "dum dum dee dee dee dum dum dee dum do?" Even the Go-Go's are welcome at this party!

So many great artists aren't properly appreciated until they're a historical footnote. Sleater-Kinney is a band that matters. Don't wait for the world to catch on-- just buy the damn albums.

Sleater-Kinney is a band that had enjoyed quite a bit of hype in the mainstream media as a result I was somewhat hesitant to give them a chance. I am a fan of bands associated with the sadly and inexplicably overexposed riot girl movement and since Le Tigre seemed to endorse them, against my own better judgment, I bought this album.

And boy, am I glad I did. Time Magazine actually got it right! These are intelligent, sexy, talented women who have put together an album that is not quite as overtly political as Le Tigre or Bikini Kill, but nevertheless, they make their general disposition quite clear. They manage to turn love songs into feminist manifestos that are quite a bit more poetic and musical than something you might expect from bands that more clearly advertise their feminism.

This album's best songs are the more personal, "One More Hour" is a good example, where Corin Tucker can truly show off her vocal range, a talent usually wasted on more diluted genres. "Turn It On" is probably the best song lyrically, almost indescribable in content; but the tone is clearly one of deep anger and resentment...at some person...or thing? I don't know, and it doesn't matter.

And that is truly the strength of this album...its emotion. I highly recommend it!

I love this album, and to me it is worth the money to have the japanese version of it, as I love the japanese language, and the way the writing looks. However, the editorial review says this comes with a bonus track, which it does NOT. This is what you will get, if you order this cd: the same songs as on the US (kill rock stars) version; the same cover art/inserts as the US version; Plus, an insert of the lyrics/other info. written in japanese. Great album, but don't buy this version thinking you will get an extra track - you won't.

I was completely oblivious to the riot girrrl scene until I listened to Dig Me Out after hearing tremendous critical acclaim. I quickly fell under its wild boundless charm. Dig Me Out has a certain power and grace that no one can really a put a finger on. It hits with deadly precision and has opened a whole new door for me, renewing my faith in music. Despite warnings from people that I would not be used to the raw undressed vocals, I was instantly hooked. I haven't bought The Hot Rock or Call The Doctor yet, so maybe I don't have enough comparison to justify my review but Dig Me Out made me want to jump and twirl around like there was no tommorrow. After hearing the shallow smoothed out pop vocals, Sleater Kinney was a welcome relief. To those that gave Dig Me Out a one star, I will never understand. To me, Dig Me Out's enterwining vocals and guitar was masterful and how the vocals played off each other was far from sloppy. This will remain one of my favorite albums of all time.

Wow.How have I not heard this album before? I've been aware of the band for a long time but only recently bought this disc when I couldn't find anything else appealing on the racks. I practically haven't stopped playing it since.
The impressive feat of Dig Me Out is how seamlessly it blends the immediacy and no-note-wasted efficiency of punk rock with genuine melody and classic rock bravado. I've never heard a voice like Corin Tucker's fiery vibrato - she can send shivers down your spine at will, but also shows remarkable restraint when the song calls for it. Carrie Brownstein's backing vocals, almost equally prominent in the mix, provide a perfect complement to Tucker's explosive performances. Occasionally, the two switch leads to great effect, as if just to demonstrate the incredible teamwork this band thrives on.
Which brings us to Janet Weiss. Having joined the group just before this album was recorded, she may have felt the need to prove her chops as a drummer; no worries were necessary. Weiss is an enthusiastic Keith Moon admirer and obviously has spent considerable effort in pursuit of Moon's inimitable drumming style. Suffice to say she hits her target and then some. Finally, the twin guitars of Tucker and Brownstein are truly a marvel of rock n'roll badass-ness -- I'd say the Strokes were definitely taking notes, and need to continue doing so.
I'll wrap it up now, because there are only so many superlatives in the English language. Buy this album now and prepare to be blown away.

There's a lot of crappy music around that people mindlessly digest, not knowing that a whole world of amazing music exists. This album is a part of that world. It's slightly less raw than Call the Doctor in terms of instrumentation, but the essential elements of Corin's yowl and guitar and vocal interplay remain just as effective as before.

The first threee songs on this album are instant classics. 'Dig Me Out' is infectious. Right from the get-go, you know you're onto a good thing when Carrie Brownstein sets in with an incredibly catchy guitar riff, followed by Janet Weiss' solid drumming and Corin Tucker's complementary guitar. After the opener comes One More Hour. It's a sad song dealing with Carrie and Corin's breakup, and the chorus introduces particularly effective vocal interplay between the two, with Corin wailing 'I needed it' and Carrie responding 'I know, it's so hard for you to let it go.'

Then we get Turn It On. Ohh yes. This is an amazing song, a S-K classic. Corin's vocals are particularly delicious. There a section where she descends into quietly muttering 'turn it on' and you know she's got something in store for you. Indeed, moments later she's in full lioness roar mode, and you're hooked.

Other highlights of the album include Things You Say, (one of my fave s-k songs ever) Dance Song 97, the sarcastic yet delightful Little Babies, the wild Words and Guitar and the girl-crush song Buy Her Candy.

Dig Me Out is an exploration of frustrated desire from the woman's point of view. There's anger, confusion - for adolescents it seems essential if only to know that you are not the only one feeling inadequate and longing for something...although it's not a one-dimensional album as some of the earlier S-K songs were. This album, and this band, has definitely changed me, as it most likely will you if you get this CD. Once you get used to Corin's voice, you'll wonder how you ever put up with all those other half-hearted singers.

Recommended.

So what to call the white-hot blast of "Dig Me Out" ? The greatest girl-rock album of the 90s? The greatest punk record sinse "Zen Arcade"? The best reason to still have faith in indie rock at a time in popular music (97) when all the innovation and vitality seemed to be coming from the UK club scene? Well, sure, I'll buy those, as long as you throw in calling it S-K's best record up to that point, which is actually saying alot more than those rather suspect statements. Here the band is firing on all cylinders, hurtling forward towards someplace where thier disparate approaches and clashing voices can exist together and make waves on thier own terms. Each song sounds like they've come to some earth-shattering realization, and are fairly bursting to get it out. The title cut is a primal scream for release from any and all boundries; "One More Hour" is as poignant and heart-breaking as any song has a right to be; "Turn It On" is the sound of hormones clashing with the logical mind, and reaching a draw; "Words and Guitar," and "It's Enough," timeless love letters to rock n' roll. "Little Babies" is a brilliant rumination on the maternal role played by the band which both celebrates a laments it with delicious wit. The last four songs are on a par with side three of "Zen Arcade" (for those fortunate souls who've heard Husker Du's masterpiece the way it should be heard-on VINYL) "Buy Her Candy" a breathtaking crush poem; "Things You Say" simply one of THE perfect rock songs ever; "Dance Song 97" as catchy as the flu or the B-52s in thier prime; and "Jenny" which closes the album on an austere, subtly devastating note. This album rushes by in such a blistering fury that it's only after a few listens that you notice the great leap taken by the band from thier previous output, which was already stellar--new drummer Janet Weiss can be thanked for this: the one kink in S-K's armor was always the competant but rudamentary drumming, but on this album, she sends the music blasting into orbit with a dexterity and command of rhythm few drummers have managed. Her role in the band cannot be over-stated: think Nirvana pre-Dave Grohl or the Who post-Keith Moon. "Dig Me Out" is where all the pieces fall into place and an already
amazing band really start to click. Did Sleater-Kinney become the greatest punk band in America ? Absolutely, I say, and it couldn't have happened at a better time.

Now THIS is what Rock'n'Roll is all about! From the title song to the last, this CD album totally rocks!...Sleater-Kinney, a 3-girl band, features some blazing guitars and puts the edge back into music. If you liked Nirvana or Throwing Muses, this is the band for you....What's more, they are not rock posers and prefer to play to smaller audiences where their music (rather than stardom or dance beats or choreography) is their raison d'etre. Their music has an almost punk mentality and possesses a certain energy and freshness that does not exist in all these cookie-cut, processed, and made-to-order musicians you hear ad nauseum on the radio now.

I have 3 of Sleater-Kinney's CDs, and this one is my favorite. Give it a listen! It is back-to-the-basics rock'n'roll at its finest!

Yay Sleater-Kinney! Boo to all those who gave them less than 5 stars. This is an album our kids will think we're cool for liking. Sleater-Kinney is undisputably one of the best bands out there. Indie or mainstream, male or female. This is their breakthrough album and for good reason. The title track explodes. Every song the album rocks. Sure this album may not be as polished as the others, but their raw ferocity is unmatched and they still manage to eloquently communicate their cultural message. That's why they kick arse.
As people, all three of them are cool beyond description, especially Carrie Brownstein. She is an unconventional beauty who has an aura of self-assured sexiness (...)