Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker co-founded the band Sleater-Kinney together 30 years ago, and became an important part of the 1990s feminist punk scene in Olympia, Washington. Rolling Stone once called Sleater-Kinney the best American punk rock band ever. Brownstein and Tucker just released their 11th album, called Little Rope. While they were working on the record, Brownstein's mother died in a car accident. They spoke with Ann Marie Baldonado about how the grief affected the album, and what it's like to make music together for decades. Also, David Bianculli reviews the Netflix series 3 Body Problem. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted Radio hour, linguist Ann Curzan says she gets a lot of complaints about people using the pronoun they to refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is.
The history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
This is fresh air.
I'm Terry Gross.
Our guests Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker formed the band Slater Kinney 30 years ago during the height of the riot girl feminist punk scene in Olympia, Washington.
In January, they released their 11th album called Little Rope.
They spoke to fresh airs and Maria Boldonado.
It's been almost 20 years since Rolling Stone deemed Slater Kenny the best american punk rock band ever, so we're lucky that the band Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker are still making music and performing.
Since they started playing together in the nineties up until their latest album, Little Rope, their music continues to evolve but still holds on to some signature the interplay of explosive guitars, Corin Tucker's distinctive whale catharsis, vulnerability, guts and feminism sour mixed with energetic joy.
During an eight year hiatus, they both worked on solo music projects while Carrie Brownstein also co created the sketch comedy show Portland with comedian and SNL alum Fred Armisen.
Sleider Kinney reunited ten years ago in 2014 and became a duo in 2019 after the departure of longtime drummer Janet Weiss.
Little Rope is their 11th album.
While they were working on it, Brownsteins mother tragically died in a car accident.
Well, talk about how that altered the trajectory of the songs and what it's like to work together for decades.
Slater Kinney is currently on tour in the US and will play abroad later this year.
Let's start with a track from their new album, Little Rope.
Here's say it like you mean it, with Corin Tucker on vocals and guitar and Carrie Brownstein on guitar.