"Combat Rock" by Sleater-Kinney---classic or dud?

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...and actually, the whole of One Beat. what do you think of it? have had this discussion with various friends and associates and reactions seem pretty mixed, even amongst rabid S-K fans.

opinions...?

― janni (janni), Monday, 17 February 2003 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't go with either C or D. I think the album's pretty good, but I don't love it (I've barely listened to it since about the second week after I got it). And "Combat Rock" is just a little...obvious. Even the title. It's an indie grrl version of "The Rising." The title track is pretty great, though.

― Jesse Fox, Monday, 17 February 2003 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

"Combat Rock" certainly isn't one of my favorites from that record, but it's not half bad. I guess it's good that someone is trying to write liberal protest songs these days, but I do wish the lyrics were a little less clunky.

As for the album overall, I think it's just okay. Sleater-Kinney can do a LOT better (see: The Hot Rock), but it's pretty good. There's a few songs I just can't get myself to warm up to - "The Remainder", "02", "Far Away", "Funeral Song" "Prisstina"; but I think that the songs that I like a lot ("Oh!", "One Beat", "Sympathy") make up for them.

I've got to say, I've been disappointed with the last two S-K albums. I'm sad that they didn't keep pushing in the direction that the Hot Rock was going in, honestly. I like All Hands and One Beat enough, but I almost never feel compelled to listen to them, and only a handful of songs from each would make my all-time SK best-of list.

― Matthew Perpetua, Monday, 17 February 2003 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, Matthew's otm. It took me a little while to warm up to The Hot Rock, because it's not as immediately grabby as Dig Me Out. But now I love it. I think the sequence of Call the Doctor-Dig Me Out-The Hot Rock is as great a 1-2-3 as, say Let It Be-Tim-Pleased to Meet Me (or Bleach-Nevermind-In Utero, whatever).

― Jesse Fox, Monday, 17 February 2003 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I loved Light Rail Coyote, myself. The opening hook of O2 is deadly, but I recall the song not fulfilling its promise.

I borrowed a friend's copy, listened for a week, and haven't heard it since. I'll pick up my own copy eventually, but I'm not feeling desperate for one.

― derrick (derrick), Monday, 17 February 2003 19:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Article Response: Sleater-Kinney

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Monday, 17 February 2003 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Sterling: Nice opine baiting

― jm (jtm), Monday, 17 February 2003 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

"Combat Rock" and "Light-Rail Coyote" (yay Portland!) are the only songs I like on One Beat. I've given myself plenty of time to warm up to the album, and it hasn't happened yet. I'm a Call the Doctor girl, myself.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

b-b-but Jody - "Step Aside"!!!!

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

music for 'posers'. or 'yuppies'.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

b-b-but Jody - "Step Aside"!!!!

I hope you're kidding.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah, I forgot about "Step Aside" - that one's pretty good. Not good enough to stick in my memory, I guess, but good all the same.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 17 February 2003 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

i haven't heard one beat in its entirety, but when sleater kinney played in auckland, the two songs from that album that stood out to me the most were "one beat" (i adore that song) and "combat rock". i adore the angular guitaring on those two tracks. but i'm yet to deliver an informed opinion on the album as a whole.

― di smith (lucylurex), Monday, 17 February 2003 23:53 (twenty-two years ago)

The near entirety of "One Beat" is classic for me (exceptions are Prisstina and Sympathy), title track being my flat out favorite for erotic reasons.

As to "Combat Rock", towards the end when the guitars suddenly shift to the suprisingly pretty melody... sublimity! And I'm a sucker for that "fists in the air" lyric.

― Leee (Leee), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 02:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm a Call the Doctor girl, myself.

Me three. I knew someone who liked CtD and All Hands best, and I'm still trying to figure out what links them - anyone know?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

they're by the same band

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

i like Hot Rock best. mmm slick Moutenot production

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

of what i've heard, hot rock is best. its less musically predictable.

― di smith (lucylurex), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 08:17 (twenty-two years ago)

One Beat is far and away their best album

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 08:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not convinced.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 08:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Not that I need to be, but S-K are kinda important to me and I've been looking high and low for an excuse to like One Beat.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 08:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Does Prisstina not have the lamest lyrics in the entire world?

― Simon Huxtable, Tuesday, 18 February 2003 12:45 (twenty-two years ago)

That song's shitty. I love most of the rest, second to "Hot Rock" for me

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 12:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with Matos. SK get better with every album.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

five months pass...

I didn't care much for this when it came out, but I wasn't listening to much rock then.

Listening again, I'm inclined to agree with naming it the best S-K album.

I think it depends a great deal on your opinion of songs like "Sympathy" and "Step Aside." Some people call Corrin's singing 'overemoting' but I love it.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 1 August 2003 05:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Now that I actually own it, it's my favorite S-K album, easy.

I don't think I'm ever going to like them more for what they say than who they are, but the lyrical craft does seem to improve each time out.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 1 August 2003 05:33 (twenty-two years ago)

They do their best talking w/guitars

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 1 August 2003 05:36 (twenty-two years ago)

There's plenty of lyrics that don't do anything good for me, but I like the singing and that's about 85% of what I care about there.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 1 August 2003 05:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Or rather, I love nearly all their hooklines (the ones I notice), ie. "I want to get away", "Why can't I get along w/you" etc just for their not particularly specific meanings that I can ROCK OUT to and see what they mean, it's just I can't really study lyrics when a record's on and reading lyric sheets by anyone is kinda depressing, they generally don't (and don't need to, obv) work without music. S-K write better fairly clear political lyrics than most people, and I like their EMO lyrics as much as anyone's, really.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 1 August 2003 05:48 (twenty-two years ago)

dud

― , Friday, 1 August 2003 05:52 (twenty-two years ago)

That's how to do it.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 1 August 2003 05:54 (twenty-two years ago)

nine months pass...

Revive!

Just got back from seeing them at the Ventura Theatre tonight. Unbelievably great show that was substantially better than the 2003 show (and I'm not just saying that because they covered "American Ruse" this time). Several new songs in the set that were promising enough to get me really excited about the new album.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 16 May 2004 08:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd always ignored S/K, operating on the (usually)infallible assumption that anything Greil Marcus hyperventilates over can't possibly be any good. Imagine my surprise when I heard "Combat Rock," apparently not one of their best-loved tunes, and really enjoyed it (though the lyrics are a bit awkward). A revelation: much more rockin and way less preachy than critics led me to think. And they can actually sing.
And they covered MC5's American Ruse? "Cheap guitars, drugs, women and fun, NOW!" Perfect.

― lovebug starski, Sunday, 16 May 2004 10:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah that's put me right off them, "Fortunate Son" YES "American Ruse" oh no, please, I like you don't treat me like this

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Sunday, 16 May 2004 11:52 (twenty-one years ago)

i've liked every band greil marcus has ever hyperventilated over (except the band haha).

covering the mc5 = meh, though i would like to hear corin sing those words.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Sunday, 16 May 2004 11:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I may yet forgive them

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Sunday, 16 May 2004 12:03 (twenty-one years ago)

i think i've decided that hot rock is indeed my favorite, just because it's the only one i've never gotten sick of.

(hey andrew are you on AIM right now?)

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Sunday, 16 May 2004 12:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I am now

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Sunday, 16 May 2004 12:11 (twenty-one years ago)

elvis do you live in the ventura area?

I kinda wish I could have gone to the show. I like the ventura theater. Sadly, I saw s-k like 4 times in twelve months and Im a tad bit burnt out on their live show..

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Monday, 17 May 2004 00:37 (twenty-one years ago)

BILL ARE YOU AT HOME ON ILX IF SO CALL ME AT WORK

― deanomgwtf!!!p%3Fmsgid%3D4581997 (deangulberry), Monday, 17 May 2004 00:41 (twenty-one years ago)

"Combat Rock" is pretty decent compared to most of side 2 on One Beat but pretty wack compared to their work from 96-99. "Oh" and "Step Aside" are the two tracks I keep returning to on that album.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 17 May 2004 00:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I DONUT HAVE YOUR WORK FONE AND YOUR CELLY IS NOT ON

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Monday, 17 May 2004 00:43 (twenty-one years ago)

that said, Telecom's post makes my day because lord knows I want to like this group again.

(x-post)

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 17 May 2004 00:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I DO NOT HAVE MY CELL CALL 6864

― deanomgwtf!!!p%3Fmsgid%3D4581997 (deangulberry), Monday, 17 May 2004 00:44 (twenty-one years ago)

THANX FOR THE PHONE CALL BILL I AM AT WORK ALL ALONE :_(

― deanomgwtf!!!p%3Fmsgid%3D4581997 (deangulberry), Monday, 17 May 2004 00:48 (twenty-one years ago)

AWESOME DUDE.

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Monday, 17 May 2004 01:05 (twenty-one years ago)

"Sympathy" is the best track on One Beat. Corin's scream/wail is great, but I like it when she tries to sing with a little soul. (cf. HtB "My Red Self")

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 17 May 2004 01:07 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm down with "one beat", "light rail coyote" and "faraway". i'd like one beat a lot more if i'd never heard anything else by sleater-kinney. heres hoping the next album is a return to their earlier glory. going by everything i've heard about their recent shows, i think it will be...

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Monday, 17 May 2004 02:26 (twenty-one years ago)

DEAR SIRS AND MADAMES

PLEASE URGENT REQUEST TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.

SK are playing two dates here, but the first is sold out. The second is the same day of THE ALIAS FINALE. I don't want to watch Alias on tape, either. IS THIS PROPOSITION ATTAINABLE? IT IS, PLEASE KINDLY FURNISH ME WITH A SOLUTION.

BEST REGARDS.

― Leeefuse 73 (Leee), Monday, 17 May 2004 03:37 (twenty-one years ago)

"Alias" is prob on earlier than the show, right?

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Monday, 17 May 2004 03:47 (twenty-one years ago)

You could bring a portable tv to the show and watch it while waiting to get in.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 17 May 2004 03:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Alias ends at 10; the concert starts at 9 w/ two opening acts, and it takes me about an hour to get to the City. I just might be able to have my cake and eat it!

― Leeefuse 73 (Leee), Monday, 17 May 2004 04:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Who's opening?

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Monday, 17 May 2004 04:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Quasi and Electro Group

― Leeefuse 73 (Leee), Monday, 17 May 2004 04:21 (twenty-one years ago)

ooh i like electro group

― the surface noise made by people (electricsound), Monday, 17 May 2004 05:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I quite like Quasi

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Monday, 17 May 2004 05:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't that helpful

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Monday, 17 May 2004 11:06 (twenty-one years ago)

they suck now, a little

― the surface noise made by people (electricsound), Monday, 17 May 2004 11:08 (twenty-one years ago)

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