One of my favorite punk bands from the 90s have decided to release another album after 10 years hiatus and upgrade their discography with another brilliant release. More than 20 years have gone by since these three amazing girls have named their trio after a highway where their first room for recording sessions was placed. From that moment on, these girls have continuously proved that you can be a female and produce hard, intelligent and exciting rock n roll music. Their discography is really perfect.
Upon release of No Cities To Love, there was a significant hype even though it was a last minute. Band has put up an unusual video as a promotional single in which many celebrities across the globe sing it while having a headset on. Music, film and showbiz stars have tuned up the volume of hype. It was worth it because the album satisfied all expectations.
Contrary to their previous releases, SK are relying on post punk matrix surrounded by a bunch of hypnotic riffs. The result are hectic rock n roll songs. At the same time, the lyrics are intelligent and the energy of the album just makes you want to go to the prom again. Opening track Price Tag introduces to the Carrie who is taking a role of worker in the shopping mall. She is using her role to make a statement about wild neoliberal capitalism and the credit world where most of us are not aware how much we earn\spend. Frenetic guitars add up to the theme of consumerism chaos.
Next two songs are equally hectic and then we come to the second single of the album, title track No Cities To Love. Main topic are problems of gentrification. In United States, hearts of cities are starting to look similar. Identity and tradition are replaces with cruel capitalistic pragmatism. No need to say that these girls are social activists. Tempo set at the beginning of the album never falls out until the end. Before the album closes with dystopian Fade in which they are still not being defeated (If there’s no tomorrow, You better live), they are also singing about love microcosms that appear as unavoidable part of life in the modern world. Needles to say, they believe love is the only meaningful thing in this fallen world. Gimme Love and A New Wave are perfect examples for it.
This would be rock n roll album of the year If Courtney Banet didn’t surprise everyone with her magnificent debut release.
