Dig Me Out

Lots of feelings and vulnerabilities exposed with this one. I first heard Sleater-Kinney when they opened for Pearl Jam in 2003. I was…not a fan. My ears felt assaulted. In the almost 20 years since I first heard them, I have tried several times to like them. I SHOULD like them because they have all the pieces of a band I should love. Women who rock and pull no punches. A sound that is unique and a message I can get behind. I can’t quite figure out what I turns me off so much and I have spent way too much time pondering this question. I thought at first that it was the way her voice sounds like reverb to me, but I think that could be really interesting used in the right way. I actually really dig the music so that isn’t it either. I think what it boils down to is that it feels like she is just shouting at me. Now stick with me here because this is the soul bearing part. It turns out that I have a huge double standard. I can listen to a man scream into a microphone and find it earnest and impassioned. I listen to a woman scream into the microphone and I find that I want her to tone it down, pretty it up, not be so emotional. Oh fuck, how did I get to be so sexist?! And now you know my deepest shame. It turns out that I want to smash the patriarchy but in a nice (and more melodic) way, which is really not smashing it at all but just succumbing to my programming. I’m giving this album 5 stars and I will keep listening to it because this album, more than any other, has made me think about myself and how I view the world and who taught me to view it the way that I do. It turns out I disliked Sleater-Kinney because it feels like an exposed nerve, which I think is kind of the point. And one that I want to keep exposing.

3.4 - The songs rock but I find the vocals shriek-y, like I'm being yelled at by my girlfriend for 35 minutes straight.

This entire album just worked for me, the dissonance, distortion, the low production value, everything about it just clicked

This is one of the best albums that I didn't know and I'm listening now with this site. This is just a great and classical rock album with all the strength and soul that was expected from a real rock album. For sure, it is a five-star album

This is the kind of album that makes me regret not listening to it sooner, because I could have been enjoying this one for years already. Perfect blend of punk, indie & menacing, angular post-punk vibes. Great strong vocals. Whole album is lean as hell with no spare flabby moments. 5* quality.

This was like listening to my angsty 14 year old sisters band in 1993.

I'm profoundly late to the Sleater-Kinney party. And hallelujah, it's a 90s rock album that's not over an hour long, clocking in at a lean 37 minutes. And those 37 kick ass. People complaining about Corin Tucker's voice can't hang. Highlights: Dig Me Out, One More Hour, Words and Guitar, Little Babies

Verlaine's guitar, Patti's yodel, Joey/Dee Dee/Tommy/Johnny's/'s pithiness, Thurston/Ranaldo/Gordon's turbulence. It's amazing when a band can wear their influences so proudly, yet still sound utterly unique. Every song is an anthem to be played while the world collapses, and during its reconstruction.

S-K makes the good music. The guitar tone is consistently excellent across the album, very raw to go with the vocals. My ear for drums must still be amateur, as this is where most notice a change for the better with the introduction of Janet. But I haven't listened to any of their live material post-departure, and it's about time to return to their latest.

I’m about to go on a tear, because this record’s got me fired up. So buckle up and get your helmet on, it’s going to get real. In my reviews, I’ve often made reference to the idea that “indie rock” doesn’t mean anything anymore, that it’s just a style that’s being chased, a formula, a bland melange of nothingness…an image to be sold for your springtime trip to Coachella. So when I listen to “Dig Me Out” once again…a record I’ve known for years, a record that has character, that has something to say, that stands for something, a record with a sense of purpose and palpable aggression…well, fuck me, but I can’t help but feel that I’m right about the sorry state of modern “indie”. Everything that makes Sleater-Kinney great is absent from a large swath of modern indie music. There’s no comparison, no analog for Sleater-Kinney, because they weren’t interested in fitting into a scene, they were making it their own. “Dig Me Out” is a five star record for all of the reasons I outlined above, but also because the guitar playing is excellent, the drumming is great and the songs, one after another, are fantastic. It’s got attitude and individuality and if you don’t like what Sleater-Kinney has to say, I’m pretty sure they’d have no problem telling you to go fuck yourself. In closing, Sleater-Kinney is cooler than you could ever hope to be.

Stop warbling for christ sake

This one his hard. I mean, it's punk, right? You don't expect pretty vocals from a punk album. And, as a fan of punk, I'm not much bothered by harsh, off-tone, or grating vocals. Nor do I have issues with female vox that are brash and rough. I kinda dig the riot grrl thing, to be honest. That said, I do think that the main vocalist is the primary issue here. The problems are two-fold. First, the vocals are super inconsistent. One track will be great, the next will be indiscipherably mumble-shouted. The next will start great and then turn into atonal nonsense. The second issue is Corin Tucker's leaning into her vibrato too heavily. Her vocals on this album are a one-trick-pony that's asked to perform so often that the trick loses its novelty. Overall, though, this is a solid punk album and I'm here for the riot grrl schtick. It works for me.

A Sleater-Kinney song could possibly work for me in a soundtrack but I’ve never been able to get involved in their stuff

Shit

This is what this project is all about. Dig Me Out is the best surprise I’ve gotten so far. Corin Tucker’s vocals are incredible. So raw, her natural vibrato conveys some urgency it’s almost panic. Add in blaring, frantic guitars and you have a borderline masterpiece. This album is unrelenting from start to finish. Dig Me Out, One More Hour, Turn It Out are a stellar opening, Jenny is an incredible closer. Just to take a few 9.1/10 6.2/10

My musical education started in the nineties, and of course I've been aware of who Sleater-Kinney are since that time, and their importance for the riot grrrrl movement taken in its larger understanding. An old friend of mine is a huge fan of this album, for instance, and I've always loved the reference to the Kinks on its cover and artwork. But oddly enough, before *Dig Me Out* popped on this app, I had never given it the attention it fully deserved. And boy oh boy (or should I say, *girl oh girl*), how excited I am to finally discover it properly. The energy on this LP is just fantastic, earworms abound (whether they come from the melodic guitars or the impassioned vocals), and the tracklisting has the sorts of dynamics I usually love in rock albums. A quick listen might give you the wrong impression that the songs are quite the same, but their respective moods are actually pretty different from each other, Sleater-Kinney always picking up the ball to send it in an unexpected melodic direction from song to song. To be a little more specific... The title track opening the album is as tense as it should be, thanks to its minor chords, "One More Hour"'s vocals are as catchy as its quavers on guitar are enticing, "Heart Factory" is the band's version of a blues cut using nineties quiet-loud-quiet shenanigans to great effects (nice percussion sounds in the background, by the way), "It's Enough" is short and sharp, "Things You Say" has an elated chorus, while groovy and organ-laden "Dance Song '97" foretells what Le Tigre would do a few years later--here referring to another important riot grrrl figure, Kathleen Hannah (more about that later on). As for the last track "Jenny", it aptly closes the proceedings on a moody note that leaves you wanting for more. And these here are just highlights among many others. I don't think there's a single dud in this fantastic record. I rarely give 5 stars for albums I didn't already know by heart on this app. And here I am giving such mark now. So I'm buying this LP right away. And speaking about riot grrrrls, it also gives me the occasion to buy another record by Bikini Kill on the side. Bikini Kill is the first band of Kathleen Hannah, another pivotal figure of that "girl indie punk-rock" movement who would later found Le Tigre, as I said earlier. I've had my eye on that Bikini Kill release for quite some time now, and I can't resist taking it as a companion piece for *Dig Me Out* (at least if I can find a version of it that's cheap enough). So thanks, Dimery and co. Number of albums left to review: 571 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 207 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 100 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 126

Record labels did a horrible job exposing gems like this to me when I was 27 years old. That's the only explanation for why I never heard this until now. What an absolute fucking joy. After 309 albums, I live for moments like this: Finding something new (to me) and immediately falling so hard it that a band becomes a new obsession. This warranted a repeat listen right away, since I didn't want it to end (but props to Spotify for following it up with a banger by The New Pornographers). We could all use a little more Sleater-Kinney in our lives.

Man, talk about a band that helped define the music of the 90s. This album contains some of the best guitar work of the decade with vocals that just rip your face off. It’s not my favorite of Sleater Kinney’s, but that’s just a compliment to their discography.

This is a perfect album. Not a single dull moment, all the songs are incredible, her voice rules, they are all phenomenal players. This has definitely found a place in my top 100 albums all time. Disappointing to see dudes shitting on her voice all over the reviews and giving similar vocalists like Nirvana 5’s across the board.

personal fav, absolute classic, 10/10 if you think this is like "being yelled at by your girlfriend" I'm sorry that you hate women

1997, great year for music. I listen to this all the time, but probably only discovered it about 10 years ago. One More Hour, right in the feels. Oh you've got the darkest eyes.

Nr. 39/1001 Dig Me Out 3/5 One More Hour 2/5 Turn it On 2/5 The Drama You've Been Craving 2/5 Heart Factor 1/5 Words and Guitar 1/5 It's Enough 1/5 Little Babies 2/5 Not What You Want 2/5 Buy Her Candy 3/5 Things You Say 4/5 Dance Song '97 2/5 Jenny 3/5 Average: 2,15 Had a hard time with the vocals

So So Album with a lacking lead singer imo

Sorry, is this a joke?

Been kind of looking forward to hearing this. Always heard the name and saw articles in magazines back then but never really heard the music. The first track did nothing for me. Some okay melodies and a couple hooks. Overall, very of it's time, not too much to write home about.

Better than Coldplay

Not often do you hear a sound so thick from a threepiece with such minimalist production and no bass to boot. The energy is the right blend of contempt, snarl, anger, but also tongue in cheek, evidenced by the lyrics and melodies. Will check out more of this band.

The only Sleater-Kinney album I've ever listened to was Little Rope, which came out last year. I was really shocked by how much I enjoyed Little Rope, but I didn't listen to Dig Me Out, because I knew it'd come up for me to review at some point. I can't remember if I had any expectations for SK before I listened to Little Rope, but I expect a lot of great guitar rock on this album. I'm ready to be dug out! Also, this will be my fourth nineties album in a row, and the second in a row from 1997. Neato! Dig Me Out was excellent from start to finish. I figured I'd like the guitar playing on this album, which I did, but the thing that struck me the most was Corin Tucker's vocals. She sounded like an angrier Belinda Carlile, and I absolutely loved it. I don't remember hearing that quality in her voice on Little Rope, but it really stood out to me here. Back to the guitar playing though. The lack of a bass guitar really allowed SK to layer lead and rhythm guitars in a way that was simple, but still textured and deep. I thought the drumming was fantastic too, giving the album a blast of tight energy. For an album with a ton of punk rock energy and sound, the production was insanely clean, and the SK sounded perfectly in sync with one another. I really enjoyed the lyrics too; the themes of heartbreak and climbing out of that heartbreak were portrayed really well through the songwriting. As far as any favorite songs on the album, I'd have to go with "One More Hour." The guitar playing was excellent, and there were so many great riffs bundled up in the sound. I really loved how Corin and Carrie's vocals sounded together as well. Dig Me Out is a fantastic rock record, and it's inspired me to listen to Little Rope again later tonight.

This is a near perfect record. I randomly discovered Sleater-Kinney shortly after its release when I was looking at music biographies in Tower Records and got into a conversation with someone who convinced me I should go check out the free Guided By Voices concert at Central Park Summerstage. GBV was okay but the opening act was S-K and I was instantly entranced by Tucker’s banshee wail and her and Brownstein’s dueling vocal and guitar lines. They’ve been one of my favorite bands ever since. They have other great albums but none hit quite like this one.

There's this indie karaoke bar I go to sometimes, and all the other women there are always so cool that I'm too intimidated to even consider talking to them. But one time, I sang "One More Hour" at the bar, and one of those really cool women came over to tell me how cool she thought I was. If that's not 5-star worthy, I don't know what is!

>>> the Beatles Fuck yes. This rules

This might actually be a 4 Star, but it hit me on the right day and in the right mood. I want to be in a Riot Grrl band when I grow up.

Punk classic. No skips.

This has such an attitude that no matter what you do with the album itself it stays with you. You wanna raise a feminist fist and say “fuck the patriarchy”. Every tune is punk in all the right places while possessing some straight banging riffs and biting lyrics.

Fabulous. Phenomenal.

Holy shit I forgot how much this album rocks. THANK YOU.

Great album, really liked it. V 90s, intense, quite grungy. Excellent.

One of the greatest albums of the 90s. Guitar interplay is amazing. Corin Tucker's vocals are incredible. 9-10/10

Like a cherry bomb of emo punk energy

I love the Riot Grrrl sound so much. Not only is this important music, it is also impressively powerful, raging, and Righteous.

Muscular, spidery, bassless guitar duelling and smart, cocksure drumming make this the best riot grrrl-affiliated record I’ve heard, firmly of rock’s jet plane and leather jacket branch, spiked by banshee vocals that, unusually, throttle back and forth, keep coherent.

Punk in which the singer can actually sing? Well this is something I haven't heard before! If she could turn off the tremolo in her voice, I would have given this the missing star.

Female punk > Male punk Always has been.

cool fem rock

Daaamn, sounds fucking good. gay gay homosexual gay

Sleater-Kinney find their stride on this album full of angst and polish. Girl rock deserves some special attention as this exemplifies what the genre can offer.

Super fun riot grrrl stuff. Gets a little samey, but not in a bad way. It wants you align with its vibe, and if you won't do that then fuck you. I like that energy.

Dig Me Out I think I would have really liked this when it came out. It’s fun and punchy with a nice punky energy, and there are some good hooks and songs, especially when the lead lines go a bit droning and dissonant. However, and although it does have a point of difference, it does get a bit too generic 90s US alt rock adjacent at times for me. Dig Me Out is a good example of the whole album; fun, great attack, energetic spirit, nice guitar lines, brief and to the point, confident and charming but perhaps lacking a bit of swing or rhythmic variation or some kind of je ne sais quoi to make it really good. Turn it On is probably my stand out, the almost Indian guitar licks give it a pleasingly different texture. Words and Guitar and It’s Enough are also very good, the lead lines giving a similarly nice tone, and the change of pace of Jenny is nice too. Overall it's one of those albums where, despite the appealing energy and overall brevity, you start to feel the limitations of the guitar, bass and drums format. That doesn’t make it bad, there are some very good tracks, and I would listen again in the right mood, but it doesn’t quite get above being decent, making it a solid to high 3. ⛏️⛏️⛏️ Playlist submission: Turn it On

Heartfelt and nicely recorded post-punk! Listening to this I was thinking about how refreshing it is to hear women doing heavy music without relying on tropes but rather investigating and expressing their own point of view, unapologetically, without compromise. And Punk is the format for that - the idea of people outside the mainstream doing what they want, don't really care what you think. Reminded me a little of Throwing Muses, but with even more edge. Glad to hear this, I've heard of the band but never had a chance to listen. I would give it 3 1/2 stars if I could.

Basic indie rock, as befits a band named after a freeway exit. I would have offered another point for the enthusiasm with which they deliver such rudimentary fare, but that kind of behavior is frowned upon these days.

Bad punk, but this time featuring shrieky girl singer.

That voice was painful

Very 90's, not too much to write home about. If you like screechy vocals and a garage sound maybe. For me life's too short.

Wow. This really sucks. Seriously, it's an insult to musicians everywhere. It's not even bad in a good way. It's just stupid. I made it as far as halfway through "Words and Guitar" and than I cracked. I do love the name though; I remember seeing that exit on I-5 around Olympia and doing a double take.

Like listening to screeching cats. Different vocals could fix this, but this absolutely unlistenable. Reminds me of that video of Yoko ruining John Lennon and Chuck Berry's live performance.

reminds me of that art project where they have women try to read books whilst sat atop a sybian this has so much vibrato / voice trembling that it sounds as if they are also doing that

I know this band is that type of Gen X alt rock that I don't like, but I've never heard them before so I'll give this a chance. Maybe it WON'T be annoying. Wait never mind, it is and it's crap. stop ULULATING ffs. Oh Christ, it's even worse than I thought. The wailing just cuts through everything and never relents. This is a fucking 1/5.

Why must she sing ?

Noisy, hooky, great.

I was introduced to this band in the early 2010s and even somehow have this album on vinyl (which I discovered going through our vinyl just a couple weeks ago). Their sound didn't hook me when I first listened back then, so I never really explored them. I'm so glad this is in the project, because giving it full attention today gives me a totally new appreciation for them. These songs are so well written, and these ladies rock! Super fun listen and amazing energy, I really fell in love with the whole thing. Little Babies is my fave, but there are so many great tracks here. Added bonus that Carrie Brownstein is in the band. (But you can still have the album CJ, I already offered it..lol and sniffle)

he sound of a heart sprinting downhill in combat boots. Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5 Short Review: Raw, lean, and electrified. This album is a controlled explosion—tight riffs, vocal harmonies that feel like arguments with perfect pitch, and drums that sound like someone slamming a door on purpose. Sleater-Kinney reinvent punk here with intelligence, swagger, and zero wasted motion. It’s not angry for the sake of anger. It’s anger as clarity. Anger as architecture. Favorite Track: “Words and Guitar” — a love song to sound itself. Feels like sticking your head out the window of a speeding car and screaming something cathartic into the wind.

YES! Holt mich richtig ab, wieder eine tolle Album-Entdeckung. Bisher hatte ich nur "The Woods" gehört und fand das sehr gut. "Dig Me Out" werde ich mir öfter geben, könnte mein Favorit von denen werden. Das erste Mal hier, dass ich nach dem ersten Hören 5 Sterne gebe. 9/10

Hell yeah!

Very good Explosive Nice

This album rocks. It has begs for a live performance, authentic, driving and hair shaking. Great guitar, drums and an incredible lead vocalist. Could not pick a favorite track, but dig me out, buy her candy and turn it on are all great.

This was pretty cool. Punky, a bit of a rawer duo compared to something like White Stripes. But very compelling. Second track of the album is pretty great. Really enjoyed it.

I’ve been meaning to listen since watching Carrie in Portlandia clips. It was one I knew I’d love as soon as the first note played. The guitar interplay was fantastic. I’m sure I’d get even more enjoyment if I was reading the lyrics as it played. Very excited to listen to the rest of their stuff and see how this fits into their discography. Rating: 4.9

Riot Grrl at its finest.

I’m sure I’ve tried to listen this before and not got it. But this time it gripped me it’s got passion, heart, energy and anger and I loved it. Will listen again

Damn the first thing to note is Weiss's drums driving this whole thing down the track at 90 mph. Rock steady. Tucker vocals are as distinct and enticing and urgent as any punk rockrr could hope for, and Carrie Brownstein singing along in the passenger seat is the perfect complement. Oh should I say that I have a crush on Brownstein's guitar (and her) lo these many years? Heart Factory stole my heart and she didn't give it back. Every song hits hard, and Jenny is a brilliant closer. Brilliant.

Blown away by this one. Figured this would not be my speed but Tucker’s voice has a unique intensity and the guitar riffs are consistently great. The first three songs, especially One More Hour, are so good

Love Sleater Kinney. Maybe not a 5 star album but all, but I can get it.

Dig Me Out is one of my favorite Sleater-Kinney albums. The band will always have a special place in my heart for all of the records and shows, but I'm Team Janet FOREVER!

I had this impression of Sleater-Kinney as a more mainstream-friendly rendition of bands I like a lot. They have that sound a bit later on, but I was wrong, this one rocks. Off kilter rhythm on One More Hour totally incredible. Very good choice for albums you must hear! You're right once in a while, list! music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

could i write poetry to this? Y

One of my most favorite albums ever. I bought this album without ever hearing a note of it because a review in Spin Magazine said, "Sleater-Kinney puts on a guitar assault worthy of Sugar." The reviewer wasn't wrong, but sold short the incredible drum work of band newcomer Janet Weiss. I also bought a black and white Danelectro 59-DC guitar because it looked just like the one on the cover of this album. I could go on and on for days about Sleater-Kinney and how important "Dig Me Out" is, but I'm just gonna give it the five stars that it deserves and move on. Add an extra half-star because the cover art is an apt tribute to The Kinks' "Konspiracy" cover.

Perfection. (100/100)

Every time I listen to this album I think “man, what an amazing energy and sound.” Then I forget all about it. Glad this project reminded me of this solid record.

Obvs love it

I'll start off by acknowledging I'm a little disappointed this is our only chance to talk about Sleater-Kinney, imo one of the most crucial bands in the rock canon, but at least we get to talk about one of their best works. But somehow that's even underselling it a bit - "one of their best works" means one of the greatest punk albums ever made, the album where Corin Tucker's wailing vibrato reaches into the straosphere, the album where Carrie Brownstein's guitar interplay provides the contrast to keep you on your toes the most, the album where Janet Weiss sounds like she's pounding down with the most almighty force. And yet, in spite of all that strength, you still get some of the band's most tender moments, like the all time gay breakup anthem of "One More Hour" or the scene-famous meditation "Buy Her Candy", to say nothing of the great almost B-52's like rock hooks of "Words and Guitar" or "Little Babies". There's a moment for everything, and for 36 brief minutes you get a chance to scream out maybe everything you've ever felt.

What's not to like!?

The songs are kind of same-ish in terms of their sound but I really enjoyed this album. The songs had a lot of energy and were fun, the women's vocals flowed well together and it filled a niche. Different to their one song I had prior to this (the future is here?) and still strange to think of the woman from portlandia. anyway... 4.5/5 stars.

I LOVE WOMEN!!!!

10/10 no notes love it

Probably never would've listened to this glad I did but its hard to stand the wailing singing

One of the best alt rock albums of the 90s. Still full of energy and raw musicianship. I was more aware on this listen that it’s a very top heavy album, with a near perfect first half and a slightly more forgettable second half.

done my legs and head(banging) exercises under the work desk. I love you Corin, Carrie and Janet.

This hits the spot so sweet, and I'm not sure why. It's accessible, like a femme foo fighters, but it kicks like the sex pistols at times. Grrl Power

Yessss I never got into Sleater Kinney and I’m not sure why, this is great. They take the harsher parts of the pixies and dial them up to 11. Punky chaotic and awesome.

I don't care what you lot think, I think her vocals are great!

Pure punk uncut.

I don’t know if it’s because I came in with no expectations or simply because my mood was conducive to receiving something like it but this was amazing. Raw, punchy, energetic, a ton of fun.

This is cool as fuck. It sounds like Alanis Morisette spent her teenage years getting stoned with Chris Cornell whilst listening to Joan Jett and Janis Joplin albums. Proper intense, raw as can be and so easy to enjoy. Hell-fucking-yes!!

Female empowerment.

Slaps from front to back

Riffs good riffs

For the genre it represents, it is a great album.

https://tenor.com/view/dude-fuck-yes-spongebob-gif-6177768983096005846

Feminine prowess Proudly gutted and displayed, Fiercely rooted punk

Really liked this. Great energy here.