“Sleater-Kinney is for Lovers”. Longtime fans of the legendary indie-rock band will recognize this slogan from t-shirts dating back to the late nineties. This slogan reminded listeners in an era plagued by cultural gatekeeping, that if you express, desire or admire passion and creativity, you will find a home in this band’s music. It is there for all of us who will listen. Inclusivity and shared experience have been at the forefront of Sleater-Kinney’s music for nearly three decades. Their new album, Little Rope, offers reflections on a world led astray by dark forces. The songs inspire listeners to sit with the ugliness, get to know its origin and use the familiarity to bring about wisdom and change. Many bands can notice the darkness, but Sleater-Kinney has the uncanny ability to initiate a dialogue with its audience to cope with a world gone wrong.

Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker began composing Little Rope, their second album as a duo, in 2022. Brownstein and Tucker were joined in the studio by touring drummer Angie Boylan, along with Galen Clark and Dave Depper on keyboards, synths and ambient guitar. The album was produced by John Congleton, marking a return to utilizing an outside producer after 2021’s self-produced Path of Wellness.

As they were crafting the new songs, a family tragedy altered the trajectory of the sessions. Brownstein received a call alerting her that her mother and stepfather had been killed in an auto accident while vacationing in Italy. When the recording sessions resumed, Brownstein took solace in the catharsis of her intense guitar playing. Her piercing lines drive the chorus of “Hunt You Down” and the sinewy fills she executes on “Crusader” weave naturally through the vocal melody. On the albums’ closer, “Untidy Creature”, Brownstein’s lyrical playing sounds as if it is the catalyst that frees the songs metaphorically imprisoned narrator.

Since 1999’s The Hot Rock, the duo has shared vocal duties nearly equally. For Little Rope Brownstein called upon Tucker, her friend and collaborator of thirty years, to sing most of the album’s lead vocals. “I honestly just needed to hear Corin sing” Brownstein told Rolling Stone back in November. Little Rope showcases some of Tucker’s most emotive vocals in a career of Earth-shattering performances.

The album’s first single and opening track “Hell” is a gripping performance sure to become a live favorite. Tucker sings of a world consumed by violence, presumably the United States at this very moment in time. “Hell is desperation, and a young man with a gun” she croons over ominous synths. A powerful statement from a mother of two. One sees news reports from too many American schools in their mind’s eye as Brownstein’s guitar kicks open the door to the chorus. Tucker ends the final verse by assuring us “Hell don’t have no worries, we’re gonna live at last.” If we can acknowledge the hell around us, maybe we can understand its’ gravity. Maybe we can even escape.

Sleater-Kinney has demonstrated the ability to capture the urgency of their live performances on record throughout their career. Little Rope captures the juxtaposition of fiery live performance and purposeful nuance that is the magic of Sleater-Kinney. Their energy is not reckless, but passionate and directed at dangerous complacency. Experimentation is daring, but never pretentious. The guitar driven crescendo in the middle of “Six Mistakes” amplifies the narrators’ search for connection like an accelerating heartbeat pounding in defiance of loneliness. “I’m hanging on but, I can’t feel your love for me” Tucker’s vocals are anchored by Brownstein’s sharp guitar attack.

Beginning in December, Sleater-Kinney released intimate performances titled Office Sessions on their Instagram page. The Office Sessions included a performance of Little Rope’s “Say it Like You Mean It”. The second single from the new LP plays as an anthemic plea for authenticity and connection. “No bitter endings and no false starts” Tucker’s lyrics focus on the desire for fulfilling communication, but not at the expense of the truth. The Instagram performance video details the songwriting process for the track. Corin sent her demo to Carrie who arranged the song and added infectious guitar melodies to the chorus. Corin’s soaring vocal melody in the chorus underwent some changes which led to the satisfying resolution on the final chorus. This collaborative effort is indicative of the duo’s musical intuition and ability to complement each other’s style.

The Office Sessions also give fans a chance to hear rarely performed gems from Sleater-Kinney’s diverse back catalogue. Followers are treated to earnest renditions of “Good Things” from their 1996 sophomore album Call the Doctor, “Milkshake n’ Honey” from 2000’s All Hands on the Bad One and the first performance of “Slow Song” from their 1995 self-titled debut since its release. During an Instagram live Q&A session on January 19, Carrie and Corin assured fans that the upcoming tour will showcase more seldom played tracks from previous albums. Brownstein described a “Blue Period” within the set where listeners will be treated to some of the bands ’slower material.  The Office Sessions will also continue with songs which may not fit into concert setlists.

Instagram live performances and Q&A sessions with a passionate fanbase demonstrate Sleater-Kinney’s connection to their listeners. The Q&A session proved that listeners feel that same kinship. Topics included songs on Little Rope, Sophia Nahli Allison’s stunning album cover art, the upcoming tour, books and dogs and musings on modern slang. Brownstein and Tucker’s wit, insight and passion shine through in conversation, just as they do on record.

Little Rope was released on January 19, 2024, on Loma Vista Records. It is available on LP, CD, Cassette and all streaming services. Sleater- Kinney will perform a sold out show here in Boston at Paradise Rock Club on March 17.