Sleater-Kinney

"Riot grrrl," "indie rock," "queer punk": Despite their instant-classic "I Wanna Be Your Joey
Ramone" – a spiky, romantic anthem off their acclaimed 1996 album Call the Doctor – even
"punk rock" doesn't encompass the sheer power of Sleater-Kinney. Although they may
shatter guitar conventions a la Sonic Youth, embrace full-blooded emotion like PJ Harvey,
write chunky hooks on a par with Kurt Cobain and embody the verve of Americ... More >

One reason you know they're young is that they obviously believe they can rock and roll at this pitch forever. Whatever the verbal message of their intricate, deeply uptempo simplicity--less sexual angst, more rock-as-romance--it's overrun by their excited mastery and runaway glee. Like a new good lover the second or third time, they're so confident of their ability to please that they just can't stop. And this confidence is collective: Corin and Carrie chorus-trade like the two-headed girl, dashing and high-stepping around on Janet Weiss's shoulders. What a ride. (Grade: A)