What is the best Sleater Kinney track and what makes it so?

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― Orbit (Orbit), Saturday, 21 May 2005 02:45 (twenty-one years ago)

"One More Hour" -- power, bereftness, drama. Beautiful vocal harmonies.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Saturday, 21 May 2005 02:48 (twenty-one years ago)

i pick "One Beat" cause it's rockin-non-stoppin'

― Aerodynamic (Aerodynamic), Saturday, 21 May 2005 03:12 (twenty-one years ago)

"get up," because it's like drowning, in a good way.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Saturday, 21 May 2005 03:13 (twenty-one years ago)

haha i just realised my answer sounds kind of like a shout out on trl.

― Aerodynamic (Aerodynamic), Saturday, 21 May 2005 03:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Rickey OTM-it oddly reminds me of "Different Kind of Tension" Buzzcocks.
Still checking out the others....

― Orbit (Orbit), Saturday, 21 May 2005 03:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Interesting comparison. I'll be playing this tonight.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Saturday, 21 May 2005 03:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Although "Dig Me Out" is my favorite album, my favorite single track is "Good Things," which I find almost debilitatingly sad.

― On a Strict El Cholo Diet (Bent Over at the Arclight), Saturday, 21 May 2005 03:53 (twenty-one years ago)

"oh!" is blowing me away right now, but I'm a sucker for anything vaguely 60s psychy-pop

― Orbit (Orbit), Saturday, 21 May 2005 04:03 (twenty-one years ago)

"Start Together," the opener on "The Hot Rock."

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Saturday, 21 May 2005 04:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, and "what makes it so." Umm... the sheer amount of hooks they cram into 2:38. The vocal inflection on "don't tear apart/what we worked for." The completely unexpected "baby don't you leave me" section.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Saturday, 21 May 2005 04:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I agree. I just listened to Start Together for the first time-ther interplay between guitar and vocals and the driving quality really make it. Thanks for the suggestion (thanks for all the info to all actually@)

― Orbit (Orbit), Saturday, 21 May 2005 04:36 (twenty-one years ago)

All the songs listed so far would make my POXX if not POX, but my favorite is "Stay Where You Are." For the grinding guitar that opens it, first of all, but mostly for the orchestral chaos of the chorus, with Carrie doing her affectless cool for the hook, Corin shrieking nutzoid in the back and the guitars and drums just sort of piling up all around like carcasses at a viking feast.

Runner-up would be "Little Mouth," which is their punkest.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Saturday, 21 May 2005 04:56 (twenty-one years ago)

"Get Up" -- because it has a really interesting, angular, super-catchy riff, because it sways, because the way Carrie draws out her spoken lines is sexy, because it continues to propel itself, because it feels like it could keep going, because the refrain doesn't even happen until 3:00!, because it feels like a joyful relief when it's over.

― jaymc (jaymc), Saturday, 21 May 2005 05:37 (twenty-one years ago)

"angular" is a good word that describes a lot of the hot rock.

"burn don't freeze" was the first SK track that really stopped me and spun me around in my tracks. it's such a weird song, especially in the way the two vocals don't seem to quite fit together.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Saturday, 21 May 2005 05:46 (twenty-one years ago)

A lot of people don't much care for "#1 Must Have," but I really love the way it shifts gears at the end. In fact, I wish the whole song was more like the second part of it, but it's so good I just have to give it a mention.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 21 May 2005 05:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Tough to argue with the sheer exhilirating fury of "Little Mouth," but I'll be a sap and say the harmonies and guitar melody of "Leave You Behind" are the most consistently breathtaking ("Wildnerness" off the new record is coming up fast though).

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Saturday, 21 May 2005 05:56 (twenty-one years ago)

"Anonymous" or "Good Things" or "Turn it On" or "Oh!". Fuck, dammit. too many.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 21 May 2005 13:16 (twenty-one years ago)

If they ever make a best-of, they should consult this thread.

One more vote for Turn It On.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Saturday, 21 May 2005 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

"One Beat" as I like to dance (it's what teh blacks are into these days)

― Morley Timmons (Donna Brown), Saturday, 21 May 2005 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

this question is nigh fucking impossible for me to answer. They have so many songs that would qualify as a 'best.' But right now I want to go with "Oh!" It goes on a little longer than necessary, but I love the fact that they actually were able to make a genuinely happy song about the affect someone has on them.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

effect, I mean

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

people who pretend Sleater-Kinney made the same album over and over again don't realize that its a long road from the self-titled EP to "I call it my rocket!"

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:29 (twenty-one years ago)

"Sympathy" - I really love the little bendy guitar thing they've got going on at the intro (repeated), unique vocals from Corin more emotive than usual, even love the lyrics

after that, either "Don't Think You Wanna" or "Words + Guitar"

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm going with "One More Hour," but very closely followed by "Youth Decay," the best example of SK's frantic yet composed goodness.

― scrimshaw (scrimshaw1837), Saturday, 21 May 2005 18:54 (twenty-one years ago)

this is really really fucking hard but i'll echo "get up" sentiments and give shoutouts to "step aside" cuz it's my fave anthem of today and "little babies" cuz it's great karaoke esp if you duet it and get someone to do "mother's little helper" right before it and "ironclad" cuz carrie ROXX SO HARD.

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 21 May 2005 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

"Get Up," it's not only their Kim Gordon homage, but it's also happens to be one of the only songs in their catalog where they go all art-rock/complex song structure/8 different melodies on us.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Saturday, 21 May 2005 22:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm going to say Let's Call It Love, becuase it is INSANE, and because I jjust got my copy of The Woods today with the bonus DVD and stickers and a pin.

― Jimmy Mod, Sultan of Sexxitime (ModJ), Saturday, 21 May 2005 22:32 (twenty-one years ago)

OK, this is really geeky, but here's the score so far:

Get Up: 4 votes
Oh: 2.25 votes (Alfred Soto named 4 songs, hence .25)
One More Hour: 2 votes
One Beat: 2 votes
Start Together: 2 votes
Good Things: 1.25 votes
Turn It On: 1.25 votes
Burn Don't Freeze: 1 vote
Stay Where You are: 1 vote
#1 Must Have: 1 vote
Leave You Behind 1 vote
Let's Call It Love: 1 vote
Anonymous: .25

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Saturday, 21 May 2005 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

!"Turn it on" Because it is so edge on the seat desperate and makes me breathless everytime

aaand and how did you get a Bonus DVD Jimmy the Mod?

― L (Leee), Sunday, 22 May 2005 01:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I also love "Little Mouth" because yes it's the punk fury and "Step Aside" because it's good and "One Beat" because it's good too. AND "I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE"! It sneers.

― L (Leee), Sunday, 22 May 2005 01:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh I see, order from subpop.com.

― L (Leee), Sunday, 22 May 2005 01:45 (twenty-one years ago)

yes, has to be get up

― kyle (akmonday), Sunday, 22 May 2005 02:23 (twenty-one years ago)

"Sympathy" had a vote too, yo.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Sunday, 22 May 2005 03:24 (twenty-one years ago)

"What If I Was Right?," because it scares me.

― Douglas (Douglas), Sunday, 22 May 2005 04:33 (twenty-one years ago)

LITTLE BABIES
because i like to dance to it!!!

― phil-two (phil-two), Sunday, 22 May 2005 07:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i think 'Oh!' is a good shout. there are a number of contenders from the first two albums that are weighed down by their often poor lyrics, but if i were to overlook that, i'd say 'Be Yr Mama'.

― Lee F# (fsharp), Sunday, 22 May 2005 10:30 (twenty-one years ago)

reason being, the awesome guitar hooks on the verse and the perfectly fitting vocal delivery.

― Lee F# (fsharp), Sunday, 22 May 2005 10:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I love One More Hour and most of the others already listed, but I'm gonna have to give my vote to Good Things.

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Sunday, 22 May 2005 10:53 (twenty-one years ago)

my vote goes to 'Oh!' as well, because it's so un-SK while at the same time totally naturally SK, and also SO MANY HOOKS.

best S-K moment however - "disassemble your discrimination"!

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 22 May 2005 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Updated...

Get Up: 5
Oh: 4.25
One Beat: 2.25
Good Things: 2.25
Turn It On: 2.25
Start Together: 2
One More Hour: 2
Burn Don't Freeze: 1
Stay Where You Are: 1
#1 Must Have: 1
Leave You Behind 1
Sympathy: 1
Let's Call It Love: 1
What If I Was Right: 1
Little Babies: 1
Anonymous: .25
Little Mouth .25
Step Aside .25
Joey Ramone .25

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Sunday, 22 May 2005 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Scratch that...this iscorrect. So far it's Oh by a nOhse

Oh: 5.25
Get Up: 5
One Beat: 2.25
Good Things: 2.25
Turn It On: 2.25
Start Together: 2
One More Hour: 2
Burn Don't Freeze: 1
Stay Where You Are: 1
#1 Must Have: 1
Leave You Behind 1
Sympathy: 1
Let's Call It Love: 1
What If I Was Right: 1
Little Babies: 1
Anonymous: .25
Little Mouth .25
Step Aside .25
Joey Ramone .25

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Sunday, 22 May 2005 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I've always been partial to "Ballad of a Ladyman"..

― daria g (daria g), Sunday, 22 May 2005 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

The Fox.

― derrick (derrick), Monday, 23 May 2005 06:12 (twenty-one years ago)

POO!: Sleater-Kinney

― 666, Monday, 23 May 2005 06:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I think my fav might be "Don't Talk Like" or "Quarter to Three", both off "The Hot Rock". I'd support a "Get Up" nomination, tho. Or "Oh!" for that matter. Golly gee what a good band. Oh yeah "One Beat" too, but IF YR COUNTING make it "Quarter to Three", I guess. For variety's sake.

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Monday, 23 May 2005 06:42 (twenty-one years ago)

What makes it so=it is sad and has melodica and the Chain Gang backing vocals

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Monday, 23 May 2005 06:42 (twenty-one years ago)

But I'll just give a shout out here anyway for "What if I Was Right?", which used to be my favorite s/k song before I realized I must be constipated because I can't POO. Fans need to check that song out, terrific performance by CT, wondrous guitar interplay, and organ too--non-album track, on the Jackson's Jukebox sampler, most of which sux. POV would work much better, as it would for any reasonably good artist.

― 666, Monday, 23 May 2005 06:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Milkshake & Honey, because I doubt it'll get votes off anyone else, and because very few people have ever sounded less bothered about getting the French accent right. "MAH PUH-TEET COMMON CA VAUUUUGH!"

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 23 May 2005 06:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Someone should mention "Heart Attack"

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Monday, 23 May 2005 06:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Someone not me I mean

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Monday, 23 May 2005 06:46 (twenty-one years ago)

What makes it so=it is sad and has melodica and the Chain Gang backing vocals

In a odd xpost, I was just saying I was checking whether anyone liked "Quarter To Three," as few other tracks have made much impression on this casual listener. Do they have more songs like this? Reasons: The ominous restraint, those backing vocals and the melodica! LOL.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Monday, 23 May 2005 06:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone.

why? the screeching vox.

― g-kit (g-kit), Monday, 23 May 2005 10:25 (twenty-one years ago)

That "Don't Talk Like" song I mentioned's along the same lines. So is their worst song of all, "Jenny". I'd steer clear of that were I you.

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Monday, 23 May 2005 12:04 (twenty-one years ago)

andrew otm about 1/4 to 3

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Monday, 23 May 2005 12:09 (twenty-one years ago)

"Jenny" is greebt!

― L (Leee), Monday, 23 May 2005 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

That's cos you love Carrie!

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Monday, 23 May 2005 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

The latest numbers are in...these are combined with the POO! Sleater-Kinney thread linked above. Get Up is running away with it. Does somebody here want to draft a quick press release?

Get Up: 9
Oh: 5.25
One More Hour: 4
Good Things: 3.58
One Beat: 3.25
Turn It On: 3.25
What If I Was Right: 3
Joey Ramone : 2.25
Start Together: 2
Leave You Behind 2
The Swimmer: 1.333
Step Aside 1.25
Burn Don't Freeze: 1
Stay Where You Are: 1
#1 Must Have: 1
Sympathy: 1
Let's Call It Love: 1
Little Babies: 1
Ballad of a Ladyman: 1
Milkshake and Honey: 1
The Fox: 1
Quarter To Three: 1
You’re No Rock and Roll Fun: 1
Words and Guitar: 1
Dig Me Out: 1
Ironclad: 1
Living In Exile: .333
Anonymous: .25
Little Mouth .25

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Monday, 23 May 2005 14:34 (twenty-one years ago)

That's cos you love Carrie!

Guilty as charged!

But "Jenny" still wins!

― L (Leee), Monday, 23 May 2005 15:05 (twenty-one years ago)

i also like 'jenny' a lot!

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Monday, 23 May 2005 15:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Good Things - because it was the 1st song of theirs I ever heard and was like a revelation to me at the time.

― Lazlo Hollyfeld (lazlohollyfeldchicago), Monday, 23 May 2005 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

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