Hubbry Logo
One BeatOne BeatMain
Open search
One Beat
Community hub
One Beat
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
One Beat
One Beat
One Beat
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

One Beat
Studio album by
Sleater-Kinney
ReleasedAugust 20, 2002
RecordedMarch–April 2002
StudioJackpot!, Portland, Oregon
GenrePunk rock
Length43:27
LabelKill Rock Stars
ProducerJohn Goodmanson
Sleater-Kinney chronology
All Hands on the Bad One
(2000) 		One Beat
(2002) 		The Woods
(2005)

One Beat is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Sleater-Kinney, released on August 20, 2002, by Kill Rock Stars. It was produced by John Goodmanson and recorded between March and April 2002 at Jackpot! Studio in Portland, Oregon. The album peaked at number 107 in the United States on the Billboard 200 and entered the Billboard Top Independent Albums at number five. One Beat was very well received by critics. Praise centered on its cathartic musical delivery and progressive politics.

Background and recording

[edit]

One Beat is the follow-up to Sleater-Kinney's highly acclaimed fifth album All Hands on the Bad One, released in 2000.[1] Before entering the studio, Sleater-Kinney practiced in drummer Janet Weiss's basement.[2] The band conceived the album to be "the voice in the silence" following the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11, 2001.[3] Vocalists and guitarists Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein did not follow a set of blueprints when crafting the songs; rather, they simply worked off each other's input and proceeded in a piecemeal way.[2] The album took longer to write than its predecessor. As Tucker explains, "the songs are more intricate and require a lot more arranging and tweaking. Our creativity really channeled us to that place."[4]

Speaking about the development of the songs in a concert setting, Weiss has said, "The live forum is where we get the feedback from the people who we're really interested in communicating with."

One Beat was produced by long-time collaborator John Goodmanson,[1] who came from the same educational background as Sleater-Kinney and recorded with most of the acts signed to Kill Rock Stars.[5] Weiss has stated that Goodmanson has a "unique" way of working with the band. Both parties decided to steer the album in a challenging new direction.[2] In a later interview, Brownstein commented that "sometimes when we would want to do new things, he would be like, 'oh god, everyone would freak out if we did that, we can't do that!'".[5] After the recording sessions, Tucker indicated that she viewed the record's final mix as "a vast, sweeping landscape" that is the most fully formed release in the band's discography.[3]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

Brownstein has referred to the album as a "strident and pointed political record, in terms of the lyrics".[5] The album contains some of Sleater-Kinney's most polemical songs; "Far Away" explicitly references the September 11 terrorist attacks and contains criticism of American president George W. Bush. Corin Tucker said that it "wasn't really a conscious decision" to write about the attacks, but there was "just such as an overwhelming presence in our minds as we were trying to write songs, that we felt that we really needed to deal with it, and that we really needed to write about it".[6] The album's lyrics were also prominently influenced by the recent birth of Tucker's son Marshall Tucker Bangs. According to Tucker, "Marshall is all over One Beat. The last year was definitely a difficult time for me, as he was born nine weeks premature and he was in the hospital for a while. It was the hardest thing that I've ever lived through, that fear and anxiety, and I think I was able to let go into the music."[7] The song "Sympathy" was written about the "terrifying" experience of Marshall's premature birth.[8] "Hollywood Ending" attacks the concept of celebrity and the mainstream female body image.

Brownstein described the album's overall sound by saying, "I think of Dig Me Out and The Hot Rock as the two ends of the spectrum and it's kind of been combined on this record. And then we also pushed ourselves beyond that".[9] Goodmanson said that "To me, it's not a record that's built for alternative radio. Yet, surprisingly, the reaction from everyone I've played it for has been like, 'Wow, these guys are really going for it'".[10] The songs "Far Away" and "Combat Rock" are both politically conscious songs, while "Step Aside" references "the violence of the world outside" and the domestic responsibilities of motherhood. The track incorporates a horn section.[11] In One Beat, Carrie Brownstein plays her guitar in the style of Document-era Peter Buck, the guitarist of R.E.M.[11] The album contains the use of wah-wah pedals, synthesizers, sing-along choruses, and hints of blues music.[11] The song "Prisstina" features backup vocals, synthesizers and guitars by American musician and composer Stephen Trask.[2] Musically, Lawrence Journal-World likened a good portion of the album to The Scream-era Siouxsie and the Banshees.[12]

Promotion and release

[edit]

Before the release, Brownstein took time off to act in an independent film, Group, which documents a group of women meeting each week in therapy sessions.

In March 2002, Sleater-Kinney previewed tracks from One Beat during a series of U.S. East Coast performances and at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Los Angeles.[1] The album's track list was confirmed in May.[2] At the start of August, the band posted the 12 songs as QuickTime streams on the Kill Rock Stars label website.[1]

One Beat was released on August 20, 2002, by Kill Rock Stars. Alongside the standard edition, a limited edition of the album was also made available for purchase. Both the CD and Vinyl limited edition featured a second disc containing two bonus tracks, "Off With Your Head" and "Lions and Tigers".[13][14]

Upon release, the album reached No. 107 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, and No. 5 on the Independent Albums chart.[15]

To promote the album, Sleater-Kinney performed at a street festival in Los Angeles alongside Sonic Youth on the weekend of August 25. The band embarked on an extensive U.S. tour in support of One Beat at the start of September. The tour started with a concert at the Bluebird Theatre in Denver on September 11, which coincided with the one-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and ended with a gig at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, on October 24.[1] Sleater-Kinney continued touring with the album for two years, during which time they secured a support slot on Pearl Jam's U.S. tour.[5]

The album was remastered and reissued in 2014.[16]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic85/100[17]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[18]
BlenderStarStarStarStarStar[19]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[20]
The GuardianStarStarStarStar[21]
NME7/10[22]
Pitchfork9.1/10[23][24]
QStarStarStarStar[25]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStar[26]
Spin8/10[27]
The Village VoiceA[28]

Media response to One Beat was highly favorable; aggregating website Metacritic reported a normalized rating of 85 out of 100 based on 22 critical reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[17] Prominent music critic Robert Christgau, writing for The Village Voice, explained that Sleater-Kinney aim for "defiant uplift" and seem energized by the challenge.[28][29] Neva Chonin of Rolling Stone pointed out that the trio's "riotous manifesto remains the same".[26] Victoria Segal of NME stated, "Few bands could explore motherhood and terrorism without making you want to shoot them: Corin Tucker's electric-shock voice and the adrenal guitars make them... essential pop topics".[22]

AllMusic reviewer Steve Huey commented that Sleater-Kinney sometimes sacrifices immediacy for angular melodies and riffs that "don't catch hold", but gave One Beat a rating of four stars out of five by noting that its "musical progression is still extremely impressive".[18] Drowned in Sound's Becky Stefani indicated that listening to the record makes one feel that "all is well in alternative music".[30] Douglas Wolk of Blender gave the album a maximum rating of five stars out of five by indicating that the band "swagger like they never have before, eschewing the filler that made their last few records drag".[19]

Legacy

[edit]

As of November 2004, the album had sold 73,000 copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan.[31] As of February 2015, One Beat had sold 90,000 copies.[32]

One Beat was ranked at number five in the Pazz & Jop poll run by The Village Voice, which surveyed 695 critics to find the best albums of 2002, [33] while The Boston Phoenix included it in its unnumbered list of The Best Albums of 2002.[34] Similarly, CMJ New Music Report placed the record at number 6 in its Top 10 of 2002 list.[35] Spin ranked One Beat at number 12 in its list of "Albums of the Year" for 2002; staff writer Caryn Ganz praised it as Sleater-Kinney's "sharpest statement yet".[36] Pitchfork placed the record at number 14 in its end-of-year list for 2002; contributor Brendan Reid wrote, "Years at the top haven't dulled their willingness to take risks, and that's just what they do, spectacularly, on One Beat".[37]

Track listing

[edit]

All music is composed by Sleater-Kinney.

No.TitleLength
1."One Beat"3:08
2."Far Away"3:45
3."Oh!"3:56
4."The Remainder"3:36
5."Light Rail Coyote"3:09
6."Step Aside"3:44
7."Combat Rock"4:47
8."O2"3:30
9."Funeral Song"2:47
10."Prisstina"3:31
11."Hollywood Ending"3:19
12."Sympathy"4:15
Total length:43:27

Personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from One Beat's album notes.[38]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

One Beat

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band Sleater-Kinney, released on August 20, 2002, through the independent label Kill Rock Stars. Produced by John Goodmanson and recorded between March and April 2002 at Jackpot! Studio in Portland, Oregon, the album features the band's signature dual-guitar attack and vocal interplay between Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker, expanded with occasional keyboards by Steve Fisk. It addresses themes of post-9/11 political disillusionment, critiques of patriotism, personal motherhood experiences, and broader social violence, delivered through energetic post-punk and indie rock arrangements. The record received widespread critical acclaim for its raw intensity, musical dynamism, and timely socio-political commentary, with reviewers highlighting its cathartic urgency and refusal to conform to mainstream rock conventions. Despite modest commercial performance, peaking outside the top 100 on charts, One Beat solidified Sleater-Kinney's reputation as a provocative force in underground music, influencing subsequent indie and punk scenes with its blend of ferocity and introspection.

Historical Context

Post-9/11 Political Climate

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, carried out by operatives who hijacked four commercial airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center towers in , the in Arlington, , and a field in after passengers intervened, resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths and marked a pivotal shift in U.S. national priorities toward and . In the immediate aftermath, public sentiment reflected widespread unity and patriotism, with Gallup polls recording President George W. Bush's job approval rating at 90% by September 24, 2001, the highest in the organization's history, driven by his to on September 20. A /Gallup/USA Today poll in October 2001 showed 82% support for U.S. military action in against the regime harboring . swiftly authorized the use of military force on September 14, 2001, underscoring a consensus on responding decisively to the perceived existential threats from Islamist extremism. By early 2002, as the U.S. campaign in progressed, attention increasingly turned to under , amid intelligence assessments positing active weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs as a proliferation risk. U.S. intelligence, including evaluations, indicated retained chemical and biological weapons from the 1990s and was pursuing nuclear capabilities, with a October 2002 asserting high confidence in Hussein's intent to reconstitute such arsenals post-United Nations inspections. This context fueled public and policy focus on preemptive security measures, with President Bush's January 29, 2002, address labeling part of an "axis of evil" alongside and , heightening concerns over and regional instability. Polls from this period, such as a Washington Post-ABC News survey in 2002, revealed 57% support for a potential U.S. involving ground troops, though support varied with conditions like casualties or international backing. Societal shifts emphasized patriotism and vigilance against perceived as undermining resolve, evidenced by surges in flag displays and volunteerism, while Research in March 2002 noted renewed trust in federal institutions for national defense. Yet, pockets of anti-war sentiment emerged, particularly among those questioning the linkage between and 9/11, with a poll in October 2002 showing support for military action against dipping to 55% amid debates over . These dynamics unfolded as One Beat was recorded in March 2002 and released on August 20, 2002, prior to the in March 2003, shaping a cultural environment where artistic expressions grappled with heightened security imperatives and eroding pre-9/11 skepticism toward expansive .

Sleater-Kinney's Prior Work and Influences

formed in , in 1994 as a collaboration between guitarist-vocalist , formerly of , and vocalist-guitarist , previously of , both bands active in the Pacific Northwest's punk and feminist DIY scenes. The duo's initial recordings featured drummer Lora MacFarlane, yielding the self-titled debut album in 1995 and in 1996, both released on the independent label Chainsaw Records and characterized by raw, angular punk structures rooted in aesthetics. Drummer joined permanently for the band's third album, establishing the core trio that persisted through One Beat; this lineup debuted on (1997), recorded December 1996 to January 1997 at John and Stu's Place in and produced by John Goodmanson. The band transitioned to for and subsequent releases, a label known for punk and indie acts, enabling wider distribution while maintaining artistic control. Dig Me Out, released April 8, 1997, represented a pivotal , incorporating influences from traditional alongside the band's punk foundations, with Weiss's drumming adding rhythmic propulsion absent in earlier bass-less configurations. addressed personal themes of heartbreak and resilience, delivered through Tucker's soaring vocals and Brownstein's taut riffs, earning critical praise for its ferocity and maturity; the solidified their reputation via extensive U.S. and international touring, including shared bills that exposed them to diverse audiences. Subsequent albums The Hot Rock (1999) and All Hands on the Bad One (2000) further broadened this trajectory, introducing melodic experimentation and pop-inflected structures while retaining punk energy—All Hands, released May 2, 2000, was lauded for its punchy and accessibility, aggregating an 86 Metascore from 12 critics. The band's influences drew from punk and precedents, including the raw expressiveness of progenitors like , as well as broader dynamics, evidenced by their shift toward intricate dual-guitar interplay and thematic depth over ideological sloganeering. Pre-2002 touring—spanning , , and festivals—built empirical fan loyalty through consistent live performances emphasizing technical precision amid chaos, with albums like and All Hands receiving acclaim for transcending niche punk confines into wider rock appreciation. This progression from visceral origins to laid causal groundwork for One Beat's synthesis of political urgency and sonic innovation.

Production

Background and Pre-Production

The development of One Beat was profoundly shaped by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which prompted to channel national anxiety and skepticism toward the ensuing political climate into their songwriting. Band members and have described the album's origins as a response to the pervasive fear and reluctance among peers to critique the Bush administration's policies, aiming to recapture punk's interrogative spirit amid a perceived stifling of dissent. This urgency was compounded by personal turmoil, particularly Tucker's experience as a ; her son was born prematurely in late 2001 and faced a life-threatening illness, instilling themes of vulnerability and resilience that informed the album's raw emotional core. Songwriting began in Portland, Oregon, where the band members resided, with initial compositions emerging in the months following 9/11 as they processed both societal shifts and individual hardships. Pre-production occurred in early 2002, prior to formal recording, emphasizing stripped-down demos that preserved the group's signature intensity and allowed for experimentation with rhythmic complexity and layered instrumentation to convey a sense of propulsion and defiance. The band selected John Goodmanson as producer due to his established track record with indie and punk acts from the scene, including prior collaborations with on albums like All Hands on the Bad One, where his approach enhanced their live-wire energy without diluting it. Goodmanson's familiarity with the band's dynamics enabled a focus on capturing urgent performances during , aligning with their goal of producing music that felt immediate and unpolished in response to contemporary crises.

Recording Process

The recording sessions for One Beat took place over several weeks from March to April 2002 at Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon, where the band members resided at the time. Producer John Goodmanson, who had collaborated with the band on prior albums, oversaw the process, with engineering handled by studio owner Larry Crane. Goodmanson incorporated digital tools such as a Pro Tools TDM rig for tracking, integrating it into the studio's workflow to facilitate efficient capture of the band's performances. The sessions prioritized preserving the trio's raw instrumental dynamics and onstage intensity, with Goodmanson focusing on eliciting and recording peak emotional outputs from vocalist-guitarists and , as well as drummer . Techniques included printing vocal takes to tape for added texture and applying to sustain creative momentum during extended tracking. Weiss's contributions emphasized strident, melodic percussion patterns that drove the album's rhythmic foundation, achieved through close-miked drum setups that highlighted her precise fills and propulsion. Logistical hurdles arose from the band's touring commitments, requiring sessions to be scheduled months in advance amid competing demands; Goodmanson notably declined a $15,000 major-label offer to accommodate Sleater-Kinney's timeline. As an independent production on , resources were limited compared to major-label endeavors, enforcing a lean approach that favored live-room takes over extensive overdubs or polishing, thereby preserving the album's urgent, unrefined edge. Mixing occurred subsequently at Avast! Recording Co. in .

Production Techniques

John Goodmanson, who produced and mixed One Beat, employed analog recording techniques at Jackpot! Studio in , utilizing the facility's custom-built Designs analog console and 24-track machines such as the Otari to capture the band's live energy and impart a characteristic warmth to the instrumentation. This approach aligned with Goodmanson's preference for analog tape in rock recordings, which he pushed hard to enhance sonic depth without relying on digital processing for core tracking. During mixing at Avast! Studio in Seattle, Goodmanson prioritized dynamic range by creating pronounced foreground-background contrasts, allowing staccato guitar riffs and layered vocals to cut through sharply while avoiding overproduction through minimal effects and compression. He incorporated subtle distortions on vocals and cascading guitar tones to emphasize emotional immediacy and punk authenticity, limiting post-production interventions to retain the trio's raw interplay rather than polishing for broader commercial appeal. For the 2014 reissue, released on October 21, the album underwent remastering by , who maintained its original dynamic structure across formats including vinyl and digital, with user reports noting comparable detail to prior editions. This process ensured fidelity to Goodmanson's initial vision amid advancements in playback technology.

Musical and Lyrical Analysis

Sound and Instrumentation

Sleater-Kinney's One Beat employs a core instrumentation of dual guitars, drums, and vocals, with on lead vocals and guitar, on guitar and vocals, and on drums and backing vocals, eschewing in favor of interlocking guitar riffs to drive rhythm and harmony. The guitars deliver angular, slashing interplay and monumental riffs, often building from minimalist starts to explosive peaks, while Weiss's drumming provides propulsive, syncopated patterns with full-bodied tone. Vocals feature Tucker's wailing leads intertwined with Brownstein's hiccuping, confident delivery, creating dynamic trade-offs that amplify the tracks' urgency. Specific tracks highlight these elements: the title track "One Beat" commences with a solitary, deliberate snare-and-tom sequence at 166 beats per minute, evolving into off-kilter drum rhythms and -driven tension. "" stutters on a single, mighty with martial undertones, emphasizing riff-centric structure and punk-derived energy in its guitar work. "Step " incorporates a rousing amid old-school punk-funk grooves and stop-start strums, while "Oh!" adds Moog keyboards and "Funeral Song" features , broadening the palette without diluting the raw interplay. Relative to All Hands on the Bad One, One Beat refines the sound through greater restraint in scaling back for emphasis, yielding more rhythmic propulsion via Weiss's melodic percussion and enhanced guitar hooks, alongside subtle expansions like strings and keyboards that heighten overall density and accessibility while preserving punk angularity. John Goodmanson maintains a polished yet unadorned approach, prioritizing the trio's organic tightness over overt embellishment.

Lyrics and Themes

The lyrics on One Beat fuse personal narratives of grief and vulnerability with political interrogations of power, conformity, and resistance, composed amid the heightened tensions following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein's intertwined vocals often alternate in a call-and-response manner, delivering abstract yet incisive lines that evoke urgency without direct advocacy, emphasizing individual agency against collective pressures. This approach reflects the band's intent to voice dissent in an era of suppressed questioning, as articulated in contemporaneous reviews noting the album's role in addressing unspoken societal fractures. The title track critiques post-9/11 exhortations for national , depicting leaders imposing a singular "beat" that demands obedience and stifles , with lines questioning whether "we all march to one beat" amid grief-driven unity. Such imagery portrays as potentially rote and authoritarian, aligning with the album's broader toward institutional narratives, though this has drawn interpretations framing it as a necessary caution against policy overreach rather than outright rejection of collective resilience. Tracks like "" shift to intimate loss, with Tucker recounting the near-fatal premature birth of her child in 2000, using blues-inflected pleas for and to parallel personal trauma with national mourning, underscoring themes of redemption amid fragility. In contrast, "O₂" employs stark metaphors of oxygen scarcity and environmental decay to probe human complicity in self-inflicted crises, blending ecological alarm with abstract defiance against complacency. Overall, the avoid prescriptive calls to action, instead implying resistance through pointed inquiry into authority's demands on the individual.

Release and Promotion

Release Details

One Beat was released on August 20, 2002, by the independent record label . The album launched in and vinyl LP formats, with the vinyl pressed as a single disc on catalog number KRS 387. Prior to the official release, previewed several tracks from One Beat during a series of East Coast tour dates in May 2002, allowing audiences to experience the new material live and contributing to early anticipation among fans. Kill Rock Stars managed the rollout through its established indie distribution channels, including specialty retailers and direct-to-consumer sales, without the backing of major label marketing resources. Digital formats of the album became available later through reissues and platforms, but were not part of the initial physical release strategy.

Marketing and Singles

To promote One Beat, produced music videos for the tracks "Oh!" and "Step Aside", emphasizing the album's raw energy and rhythmic drive through visual depictions of live performance intensity and urban grit. These videos received circulation primarily on alternative music channels and platforms, aligning with the band's independent ethos on rather than major-label radio pushes. Airplay remained minimal, reflecting the punk genre's marginalization on commercial stations and the label's limited distribution reach beyond niche audiences. Marketing strategies focused on and live-centric efforts, including club headlining tours and high-profile support slots, such as opening for on portions of their 2003 U.S. tour, which exposed the band to broader rock crowds without compromising their underground credibility. Pre-release buzz built through appearances like a joint performance with at a street festival on the weekend of August 25, 2002, leveraging shared indie networks for targeted visibility. Coverage concentrated in alternative press and zines, where the album's post-9/11 skepticism—expressed in tracks critiquing war and conformity—resonated amid a cultural atmosphere wary of dissent, though this timing curbed wider media pickup in mainstream outlets favoring patriotic narratives. Critic Greil Marcus's prior advocacy for the band contributed to elevated attention in rock journalism, framing Sleater-Kinney as a vital punk voice and aiding promotional narratives around One Beat's political urgency, though empirical data shows penetration stayed confined to indie and college radio circuits rather than achieving crossover traction.

Commercial Performance

One Beat achieved modest commercial performance upon its release, peaking at number 107 on the US Billboard 200 chart in September 2002, which represented the band's highest position on that ranking at the time. It simultaneously debuted at number five on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart, underscoring its appeal within the indie rock sector despite limited mainstream exposure. The album's chart trajectory was constrained by its distribution through the independent label Kill Rock Stars, which lacked the promotional resources of major labels, resulting in reliance on niche punk and alternative audiences rather than broad radio or retail push. Internationally, One Beat saw negligible chart impact, failing to enter the or other major European rankings, with sales primarily confined to and indie scenes through specialty outlets and fan networks. This reflected the band's grassroots following but highlighted barriers to wider penetration, such as absence of major label and opportunities in media. Overall, the release did not translate critical momentum into significant unit sales, maintaining Sleater-Kinney's status as a favorite rather than a commercial powerhouse.

Reception and Critique

Initial Critical Response

Upon release on August 20, 2002, One Beat garnered strong praise from music critics for its raw energy, rhythmic propulsion, and engagement with post-9/11 anxieties, including skepticism toward war and patriotism. The album earned a aggregate score of 85 out of 100, derived from 22 reviews, reflecting broad consensus on its vitality amid a tense cultural moment. Pitchfork rated it 8.4 out of 10, commending the band's shift toward more immediate, hook-driven songs that retained punk ferocity while broadening appeal, describing it as an "uncompromising, energetic monster" suited to rock's evolving landscape. Similarly, Spin placed it at number 12 on its year-end list, highlighting its fusion of personal postpartum experiences with anti-war urgency as Sleater-Kinney's most pointed work to date. Reviewers in outlets like and emphasized the cathartic interplay of and Corin Tucker's guitars and vocals, which channeled dissent into anthemic tracks like "," though some observed that the overt political messaging risked in songs addressing blind allegiance. This tension was generally overshadowed by acclaim for the album's refusal to soften its edge, with few detractors amid the 90% positive rating distribution on .

Achievements and Accolades

One Beat placed fifth in 's 2002 Pazz & Jop critics' poll, reflecting strong endorsement from music journalists. The album ranked among SPIN magazine's 40 best albums of 2002. Its influence persisted into retrospective rankings, appearing at number 72 on Pitchfork's list of the top 200 albums of the . Sub Pop remastered and reissued the album on September 2, 2014, affirming its ongoing relevance in .

Criticisms and Shortcomings

Some reviewers criticized the album's vocal delivery and guitar work for their raw, unpolished qualities, with Corin Tucker's singing described as a "screechy howl" and the guitars as "alienating and angular," potentially limiting broader appeal beyond punk audiences. This style was seen as continuing an "inglorious tradition of shouty punk women," emphasizing discord over refinement, and the production was faulted for lacking proper polish. Longtime fans expressed disappointment with the album's tweaks to Sleater-Kinney's established formula, viewing One Beat as their most underwhelming release due to restrained dynamics and expanded instrumentation, including horns, strings, and keyboards, which altered the raw punk edge. Tracks such as "Combat Rock" and "The Remainder" were noted for stuttering along a single without fully exploding into expected intensity, contributing to perceptions of repetition in . The closing track "Sympathy" drew specific ire for its bluesy over-emoting, echoing elements critics had previously disliked in the band's earlier work. At a runtime of approximately 38 minutes across 12 tracks, some observed that the album's brevity constrained deeper exploration of its post-9/11 themes, though this aligned with punk conventions rather than a deliberate flaw. Lyrically, occasional simplistic phrasing, such as repetitive escape motifs, was cited as less fleshed out compared to the band's more nuanced efforts.

Impact and Legacy

Cultural Influence

One Beat helped bridge riot grrrl's raw energy with more polished production, influencing post-2000s punk acts that prioritized female-led aggression and thematic depth. Bands like have credited 's overall sound, including albums like One Beat, for shaping their DIY punk approach, with vocalist Estella Adeyeri noting the group's role in inspiring thoughts on band dynamics and feminist expression during a 2022 conversation with . This causal link appears in live collaborations, such as opening for at London's on February 26, 2020. The album's impact remains empirically niche, with limited direct covers or samples recorded on platforms tracking musical interpolations; for instance, the title track from One Beat saw minor sampling in a 2022 mashup by The Hood Internet, but no widespread tributes emerged. In broader subcultural terms, it reinforced punk's emphasis on female agency amid the early revival of garage and indie scenes, though measurable ripples stayed confined to underground circuits rather than mainstream crossovers. Discussions in feminist music analyses often reference One Beat for its personal-political synthesis, positioning it as a touchstone in studies of dynamics in punk without dominating academic citations. This underscores a targeted rather than transformative cultural footprint, sustaining influence through niche reverence in successor communities.

Political Reappraisal

In the 2020s, retrospective analyses have positioned One Beat as a prescient artifact of post-9/11 , capturing the tension between national grief and skepticism toward escalating military commitments. Released on August 20, 2002, amid preparations for the invasion, the album's themes—articulated in tracks like "Far Away," which lampoons President George W. Bush's post-attack evasion, and "," which decries as ersatz —anticipated revelations of flawed on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and the war's protracted costs exceeding $2 by 2020 estimates from sources like the Watson Institute at . This reappraisal often frames the band's call for —"Where is the protest song? / Dissent is not "—as embodying core American traditions of , countering contemporary perceptions of as disloyalty. Commentators have credited the with bridging personal trauma and political urgency, influencing views on how early opposition to interventionism aligned with later mainstream regrets over Iraq's destabilizing effects, including the rise of by 2014. Yet, the album's emphasis on skewering perceived patriotic excess has drawn counters emphasizing the causal imperatives post-September 11, 2001, when al-Qaeda's attacks killed 2,977 people and necessitated targeted countermeasures against Islamist networks, rather than reflexive anti-administration broadsides. While Sleater-Kinney's stance mirrored the progressive left's anti-Bush mobilization—evident in contemporaneous musician divisions over protests—these critiques argue such framing underweighted immediate terror threats, contributing to polarized discourse that hindered unified threat assessment.

Recent Developments and Reissues

In 2014, issued a remastered edition of One Beat, with remastering handled by , coinciding with the label's broader reissue campaign for the band's early catalog. This version appeared on vinyl, compact disc, and digital formats, enhancing audio fidelity from the original 2002 release produced by John Goodmanson. The remaster became widely accessible via streaming services such as , , and , supporting ongoing digital consumption. Sleater-Kinney entered an indefinite hiatus in 2006 following the release of The Woods, with no immediate plans for tours or recordings, as confirmed by the band's statement through . The group reunited in 2014, issuing No Cities to Love and resuming live performances, which sustained interest in their discography including One Beat. During 2024 tours, such as appearances at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on July 27 and on October 4, setlists occasionally featured One Beat tracks like "Oh!", reflecting selective integration into contemporary shows alongside material from later albums. No large-scale revivals or anniversary editions beyond the remaster have occurred, though the album maintains availability through reissue sales and streaming metrics indicative of a dedicated, if niche, listener base.

Track Listing and Credits

Track Listing

All songs written by . The standard edition contains 12 tracks with a total runtime of 43:21.
No.TitleLength
1One Beat3:08
2Far Away3:44
3Oh!3:56
4The Remainder3:36
5Light Rail Coyote3:08
6Step Aside2:38
74:50
8O₂3:30
9Funeral Song2:44
10Prisstina3:28
113:40
124:21
No major alternate editions exist beyond limited vinyl pressings with bonus 7" singles not included in the core album. A 2022 remaster features minor sonic adjustments but retains the original track sequence and durations.

Personnel

One Beat features performances by Sleater-Kinney's core lineup of on guitar and vocals, on guitar and vocals, and on drums and percussion. The album was produced, engineered, and mixed by John Goodmanson, who also provided E-Bow guitar contributions. Additional instrumentation came from (synthesizer, background vocals), (keyboards), (theremin, keyboards on select tracks), Brent Arnold (cello, string arrangements), and Jen Charowhas (violin). Engineering support included Larry Crane (engineer) and Troy Tietjen (assistant engineer), with mastering handled by Roger Seibel.

References

  1. https://www.discogs.com/release/3157978-Sleater-Kinney-One-Beat
  2. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sleater-kinney/one-beat/
  3. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7237-one-beat/
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/aug/16/popandrock.artsfeatures5
  5. https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/sept-11-attack.html
  6. https://www.cdc.gov/orr/responses/september-11-attacks.html
  7. https://news.gallup.com/poll/4924/bush-job-approval-highest-gallup-history.aspx
  8. https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/blog/roper-center-reflects-20-years-polling-911
  9. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/09/02/two-decades-later-the-enduring-legacy-of-9-11/
  10. https://apnews.com/article/iraq-war-wmds-us-intelligence-f9e21ac59d3a0470d9bfcc83544d706e
  11. https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB254/index.htm
  12. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/08/13/poll-americans-cautiously-favor-war-in-iraq/e40e58eb-2194-420c-bdbb-8d0ca40b2128/
  13. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2002/03/07/public-opinion-six-months-later/
  14. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2002/10/30/support-for-potential-military-action-slips-to-55/
  15. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/03/14/a-look-back-at-how-fear-and-false-beliefs-bolstered-u-s-public-support-for-war-in-iraq/
  16. https://fastnbulbous.com/sleater-kinney-dig-me-out/
  17. https://www.discogs.com/artist/218269-Sleater-Kinney
  18. https://www.last.fm/music/Sleater-Kinney/Dig%2BMe%2BOut/%2Bwiki
  19. https://megamart.subpop.com/products/sleater-kinney_dig-me-out
  20. https://riotfest.org/2022/04/08/dig-me-out-turns-25-how-sleater-kinneys-biggest-record-broke-every-boundary/
  21. https://1001albumsgenerator.com/albums/5WwTUr1kf45gsJ1ZUGGwuL/dig-me-out
  22. https://albumism.com/features/sleater-kinney-dig-me-out-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective
  23. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7239-all-hands-on-the-bad-one/
  24. https://www.metacritic.com/music/all-hands-on-the-bad-one/sleater-kinney
  25. https://www.nme.com/features/the-story-of-riot-grrrl-in-15-classic-albums-bikini-kill-sleater-kinney-2967283
  26. https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2002/09/06/sleater-kinney-brings-precision-and-elegance-to-punk/
  27. https://stereogum.com/2082902/all-hands-on-the-bad-one-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/
  28. https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/sleater-kinney-start-together-267/
  29. https://murlough23.wordpress.com/2021/05/26/sleater-kinney-one-beat-since-when-is-skepticism-un-american/
  30. https://diymag.com/feature/a-new-wave-a-comprehensive-guide-to-sleater-kinney
  31. https://www.tnmbp.com/2012/03/25/favorite-2000s-albums-4-sleater-kinney-one-beat/
  32. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sleater-kinney-wrap-one-beat-250083/
  33. https://tapeop.com/interviews/35/john-goodmanson
  34. https://www.discogs.com/release/693342-Sleater-Kinney-One-Beat
  35. http://jackpotrecording.com/history/
  36. https://www.vrtxmag.com/articles/sound-thinking-with-larry-crane/
  37. https://tapeop.com/columns/toc/163
  38. http://jackpotrecording.com/
  39. https://sleaterkinney.bandcamp.com/album/one-beat-remastered
  40. https://www.discogs.com/master/64420-Sleater-Kinney-One-Beat
  41. https://megamart.subpop.com/products/sleater-kinney_one-beat
  42. https://www.popmatters.com/sleaterkinney-onebeat-2496062650.html
  43. https://tunebat.com/Info/One-Beat-Sleater-Kinney/3IAFRGBtVWIDGlHL9jIEXe
  44. https://inmusicwetrust.com/articles/51r41.html
  45. https://genius.com/albums/Sleater-kinney/One-beat
  46. https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/five-albums-that-encapsulate-the-post-9-11-era/
  47. https://genius.com/Sleater-kinney-one-beat-lyrics
  48. https://beta.dailyvault.com/review/one-beat-sean-mccarthy/
  49. https://hauntedjukebox.com/2017/09/12/sleater-kinney-one-beat/
  50. https://medium.com/the-covid-19-collection-the-sleater-kinney-essays/sleater-kinneys-one-beat-anger-survival-in-a-violent-world-626f7a643764
  51. https://diffuser.fm/sleater-kinney-one-beat/
  52. https://pennyblackmusic.co.uk/Home/Details?id=11087
  53. https://www.subpop.com/releases/sleater_kinney/one_beat
  54. https://www.discogs.com/release/11354054-Sleater-Kinney-One-Beat
  55. https://www.shazam.com/song/906547991/oh/music-video
  56. https://www.shazam.com/song/906547996/step-aside/music-video
  57. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sleater-kinney-unleashes-the-beat-74685/
  58. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3712/sleater-kinney/
  59. https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/02/03/383507767/unfinished-business
  60. https://www.metacritic.com/music/one-beat/sleater-kinney
  61. https://www.spin.com/2002/12/40-best-albums-2002/
  62. https://www.metacritic.com/music/one-beat/sleater-kinney/critic-reviews
  63. https://www.villagevoice.com/the-village-voices-pazz-jop-critics-poll-top-10-albums-by-year-1971-2013/
  64. https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7710-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-20-1/
  65. https://crackmagazine.net/article/profiles/big-joanie-in-conversation-with-corin-tucker/
  66. https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/big-joanie-back-home-interview
  67. https://www.whosampled.com/album/Sleater-Kinney/One-Beat/
  68. https://www.treblezine.com/19890-sleater-kinney-reunion-importance-impulse-noise/
  69. https://rateyourmusic.com/list/ava_nvn/feminist_queer-punk-media/
  70. https://www.vox.com/2015/1/20/7855283/sleater-kinney
  71. https://interminablerambling.medium.com/dissents-not-treason-but-they-talk-like-it-s-the-same-revisiting-post-september-11-protest-84e2f99fe34c
  72. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/essential-guide-sleater-kinney-105730792.html
  73. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sleater-kinney/one-beat/reviews/1/
  74. https://www.popmatters.com/music-after-911-2495578234.html
  75. https://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/06/ew.hot.iraq/index.html
  76. https://open.spotify.com/album/6rLlfZB9OWMPHzXL04DusD
  77. https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-beat-remastered/906547987
  78. https://www.seattleweekly.com/music/an-incomplete-history-of-sleater-kinneys-indefinite-hiatus/
  79. https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2014/10/20/357434514/sleater-kinney-reunite-announce-new-album
  80. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/sleaterkinney/2024/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-cleveland-oh-5ba85be0.html
  81. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/sleaterkinney/2024/golden-gate-park-san-francisco-ca-6b530e3a.html
  82. https://shop.veeps.com/products/sleater-kinney-one-beat-lp
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.