By Snilch

The Corin Tucker Band
1,000 Years
Kill Rock Stars

It’s almost inconceivable that it’s been five years since legendary riot grrrl band Sleater-Kinney released their last album (2005’s The Woods), but that is the sad truth.  After what has essentially been a 4-year hiatus, all three members are back with new bands:  guitarist/vocalist Carrie Brownstein and drummer Janet Weiss are half of Wild Flag (with the Minders’ Rebecca Cole and Helium guitarist/vocalist Mary Timony), and guitarist/vocalist Corin Tucker has formed The Corin Tucker Band (with members of Golden Bears and Hungry Ghost).

Besides the great name play on “The Marshall Tucker Band,” this album has it in spades musically.  Think less three-chord rock, but not as fuzzy a guitar sound as The Woods – the album is an attempt at a big pop sound (with even strings thrown in) along with some big rock elements. And the first track “1,000 Years,” is absolutely tremendous: Tucker’s voice floating over a thumping bass and drum, a great droning organ sound, and a nice melodic guitar to round it out. “Doubt” also rates as a decent tune; it’s also the only song where Tucker exercises her tremendous vocal range.

The rest of the album is confusing.   “Half a World Away” is a classic Sleater-Kinney song, complete with Tucker doing her best Carrie Brownstein on backup vocals, and the guitar is even Brownstein’s “pick and riff” style.  (Yes, I did just make that term up.)  It’s odd.  Stylistically, the rest of 1,000 Years is all over the place, from almost jazzy, to classic rock, and everywhere in between. The songs feel a bit unfinished:  very polished but lacking the edge that “Doubt” and “1,000 Years” possess. It’s really a pretty boring experience overall, actually, which is too bad, as there is so much going for the individual elements.  The final output just does not match the sum of its parts.

Lyrically, the album appears very personal; I finds these albums to be very boom or bust for me.  Here, the plot gets lost amongst some nice sounds and ends up (unfortunately) as navel-gazing.  What you can hear from this album:  the potential for something great in the future.  I hope they make that jump.

Released on October 5, 2010

Track Listing

1.    1,000 Years
2.    Half A World Away
3.    It’s Always Summer
4.    Handed Love
5.    Doubt
6.    Dragon
7.    Riley
8.    Pulling Pieces
9.    Thrift Store Coats
10.    Big Goodbye
11.    Miles Away