Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out (Digital Download Card)

Sleater-Kinney: Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein (vocals, guitar); Janet Weiss (drums, percussion).Additional personnel: Jessica Lurie (saxophone).Recorded at John and Stu's Place, Seattle, Washington in December 1996 and January 1997.From Olympia, Washington comes Sleater-Kinney, a hard-rocking, stripped-down, punk trio. No, this ain't 1979, but lead singer Corin Tucker does count punk godmother Patti Smith among her major influences, and it shows in this band's often-savage sound. Tucker also claims a debt to Aretha Franklin, and that too comes through in her full-throated vocal attack. Tucker has range on top of range, and she uses her powerful, vibrato-saturated pipes to wail about topics ranging from failed relationships to parents from hell.The songs are edgy, revved-up aural attacks. Drums churn along at circa-1979 speeds, guitars are fuzzy and fast, and whatever "licks" exist are quick and to the point. Note that this is definitely not another "girl group," even though all three