Sleater-Kinney - Jumpers

Jumpers is the song which really opened up Sleater-Kinney’s latest album The Woods for me. Hidden four songs into the album it never got to make an impact on me during my initial listens, and so the album got pushed to one side, with the thought that despite all the hype I just didn’t see the new work as being up to what the band had delivered in the past.

Then I saw a video of Jumpers performed live. It stuck in my head for weeks on end and forced me to re-examine the whole album. I’m glad I did, as it has since become one of my clear favourites for the year. Hopefully its release as a single will allow the song to have the same effect on anyone who hasn’t yet explored The Woods (and there’s an awesome video to go with it).

Jumpers is a prime example of what the band are capable of at their best. The dual vocals of Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein create an absorbing tension during the verse, before giving way to Janet Weiss’ unorthodox drum beat. It’s weird, but it’s perfect for that moment. Then after all the build-up we finally get a release by way of Tucker’s chorus.

“Lonely as a cloud
In the golden state
The longest winter that I ever saw
Was the summer that I spent” she wails. Brownstein then takes us through a bridge and deliciously dirty guitar solo before the final verse ends abruptly, making you reach for that repeat button so you can sing along with Tucker again.

The single is backed by two live recordings, which also give you a chance to hear how good this band is live as well as on record. The Wilderness is also taken from The Woods, and does a great job of summarising the theme of the album into one song. The classic You’re No Rock n Roll Fun from All Hands on The Bad One rounds out the disc. Although slightly changed, it is a great reminder of why Sleater-Kinney have been worth paying attention to for all these years.

(Originally published on FasterLouder)