Album Review: Sleater-Kinney – The Center Won't Hold

Sleater-Kinney don’t have anything to prove. Now ten records deep, The Center Won’t Hold, their first studio album since 2015’s comeback No Cities To Love, drops the band squarely in 2019 with a riot grrrl “fuck you” to anyone questioning a woman’s ability to make music as you age. 

In saying that, it’s a very 2019 record – whatever you take that to mean – taking cues from a fractured America to produce a fractured record, digging deep to fight against first-world fatigue. Vitally, it shares the importance of taking up space as Annie Clark, aka St Vincent, takes on production duties to share these personal narratives.  

The record takes a big swing, guitarist Carrie Brownstein telling The Music “you can't create music or art by consensus”. It also marks drummer Janet Weiss’ last outing in the band, a decision that sent shockwaves through fans when it was announced. "A new direction" was the cliched answer provided, and, listening to the record, it’s definitely a cleaner approach to the band’s usual wall of sound. But there’s new and old comforts here. Perhaps it should just be thought of as a different vehicle from which to see the world. And as usual, Sleater-Kinney are making (and breaking) their own road rules.