Dave Chamberlain

Hats off to the ladies of Sleater-Kinney, who have, over the course of six records, taken a once-unique sound (dubbed riot grrls/Northwest) and stuck to it, all the while adding little tweaks here and there to make it better. In fact, can you name another band to hail from their Northwest music scene to really matter over the course of six records? The band's latest, "One Beat" (Kill Rock Stars), didn't change my life, but damn if it doesn't have at least five songs that can knock you over with the force of a hurricane. Carrie Brownstein's unwaveringly strong vocals drive home the building momentum that gives way to battling guitar dissonance on "Faraway." On "Light Rail Coyote," a nearly anthemic soundtrack to disaffected kids, Brownstein belts out "And Joan of Arc rules Northeast/Where the poor and the hipsters meet" with so much power, it sends shivers down the spine. The record still doesn't maintain the level of energy the band found on "Dig Me Out" or "Call the Doctor," but the tangible forward growth here comes without forgetting the important part: the rock part. On stage, Sleater-Kinney has two extremes: of the five concerts I've seen, they've been great--even brilliant--three times, and borderline awful the remaining two. This is Sleater-Kinney's first show in Chicago for a while, so we'll assume the former will prevail.

Sleater-Kinney plays October 10-11 at the Metro, 3730 North Clark, (773)549-0203.

(2002-10-09)

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