After an eight-year hiatus, Sleater-Kinney has publically announced their full return. They released their newest single, “Bury Our Friends,” which you can download for free right now. Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss, and Carrie Brownstein are all back and ready to release their long awaited return with No Cities to Love, which will be made available via Sub Pop on January 20. In support of the new album, Sleater-Kinney has also announced an American tour as well as a few dates overseas in Europe.
The new single comes via a lyric video starring none other than Miranda July. Although you won’t be able to recognize July in the music video, since she is wearing an elderly man-creature mask, she’s an actress, author, screenwriter, and film director most known for the 2005 indie classic, Me and You and Everyone We Know. July is a friend and collaborator of Sleater-Kinney, and even has two albums of her own released in the late 90s under feminist, punk label Kill Rock Stars. Sleater-Kinney is teaming up yet again with long-time producer John Goodmanson, who has produced for Death Cab for Cutie, Bikini Kill, and Los Campesinos!
Although they haven’t released or toured in over eight years, the band members haven’t been lying dormant. Brownstein and Weiss formed Wild Flag, a supergroup, with Mary Timony, of Helium, and Rebecca Cole, of The Minders. Although receiving critical acclaim, the band only released one album and split ways earlier this year. You may also recognize Brownstein from co-creating and co-starring alongside Saturday Night Live alumnus, Fred Armisen, in the satirical sketch comedy show Portlandia, which is currently in production for its fifth season on IFC. Tucker remained very active as well, releasing two albums under her solo project, Corin Tucker Band. Both albums were also released under the northwest label Kill Rock Star. Also, this is the first time Sleater-Kinney has been active since the birth of Tucker’s daughter, Glory, back in 2008.
On October 21, you can pick up Sleater-Kinney’s entire discography in a vinyl box set entitled Start Together. The box set features all seven albums remastered from their original analog tapes.