The Woods
by Sleater-Kinney
  • Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: May 24, 2005
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 183 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 151 out of 183
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 183
  3. Negative: 20 out of 183

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  1. GregA
    Jun 2, 2005
    5
    Why does this band automatically get great reviews everytime they put out another complicated sounding, yet completely boring album? i can have my computer put out random noises and it will sound complex but that doesnt mean its great music. just listen to the first track, that gives you pretty much the idea of what they are going for. honestly I dont think this band has had a hit since Why does this band automatically get great reviews everytime they put out another complicated sounding, yet completely boring album? i can have my computer put out random noises and it will sound complex but that doesnt mean its great music. just listen to the first track, that gives you pretty much the idea of what they are going for. honestly I dont think this band has had a hit since The Hot Rock, so if you really want to hear some good music spend your money on that. but then again most of the people who review/buy/download this sub-par release are scenesters who just need the latest music so they can namedrop to their scenester clones. oh well.… Expand
  2. jeff--
    May 31, 2005
    5
    I'm a huge sk fan, so i'm really disappointed in what has to be one of the most boring records ever recorded by a great band.. The only salvation for me is the middle section from jumpers to rollercoaster which actually allows us to hear corin, carrie and janet apart and together - the in the red production is a joke that apparently attempts to make up for the lack of energy and I'm a huge sk fan, so i'm really disappointed in what has to be one of the most boring records ever recorded by a great band.. The only salvation for me is the middle section from jumpers to rollercoaster which actually allows us to hear corin, carrie and janet apart and together - the in the red production is a joke that apparently attempts to make up for the lack of energy and urgency and most of all fun lacking in the material here. just so boring.… Expand
  3. IanE
    Jun 21, 2005
    5
    It took me four tries to get all the way through this album. I really wanted to like this album, and I kept looking for something to enjoy about it, but I can't stand it. First off, it's loud. It's not hard to imagine producer Dave Fridmann's work in producing The Woods: just turn every knob as high as it will go. Even with the volume turned low, The Woods sounds It took me four tries to get all the way through this album. I really wanted to like this album, and I kept looking for something to enjoy about it, but I can't stand it. First off, it's loud. It's not hard to imagine producer Dave Fridmann's work in producing The Woods: just turn every knob as high as it will go. Even with the volume turned low, The Woods sounds distorted. This may have been an attempt to make the songs sound more visceral and energetic, but it… Expand
  4. RStJ
    Nov 15, 2005
    5
    Ok, first of, you people giving this mess a "10" need to wake up. This album has major problems, not least of hich is the almost unlistenable mi/mastering. I'm t a total loss to explain this as nything other than some catostrophe occurring in the studio which had to be covered by superheating the mix to the point where you focus on the distortion rather than the frequently inept song Ok, first of, you people giving this mess a "10" need to wake up. This album has major problems, not least of hich is the almost unlistenable mi/mastering. I'm t a total loss to explain this as nything other than some catostrophe occurring in the studio which had to be covered by superheating the mix to the point where you focus on the distortion rather than the frequently inept song takes. Next, you people giving this a "0" need to snap out of it too, since very few bands will ever be able to record a song as terrifyingly good as Jumpers. I'm pretty sure this is what the entire album was supposed to sound like as Jumpers is tight, well-rehearsed, and clearly a finished product unlike over half of the other songs. It also sounds much like SK's best work in the past, just updated a bit with a strong sense of rock c. 1991. Sadly, the vibe reminds me very much of late period Nirvana and we all know how that ended up. The cancellation of the November tour dates is an ominous sign. I hope Brownstein is OK. If she's the first person "I" of Jumpers then she might not be. The song really should have been called "Jumper" (singular) since there is only one person in the song and it is not a meditation on why people jump in general, but why one person in particular jumps--a profound and hopeless sense of loneliness. On the strength of this one song, I give the record a "5." I hope it's not the end for the band, but I think it probably will be.… Expand
  5. matta
    Jun 17, 2005
    5
    This is seriously overrated. Is it just because it's three chicks and critics don't want to appear sexist so they give it 100? I don't know but don't be fooled by the 86. This is very average rock/indie music at best.
  6. SteveB
    Aug 9, 2005
    4
    As a Sleater-Kinney fan, I can't help but be disappointed by this album. I wanted to like it, especially after reading a few reviews. But the songs just don't stick in my head like they do on previous albums. They got louder, which is fine, but they left the melody at home, which they didn't have to do. I do give them credit for trying something new. Unfortunately, all the As a Sleater-Kinney fan, I can't help but be disappointed by this album. I wanted to like it, especially after reading a few reviews. But the songs just don't stick in my head like they do on previous albums. They got louder, which is fine, but they left the melody at home, which they didn't have to do. I do give them credit for trying something new. Unfortunately, all the good press might cause them to continue to follow down this path. There is nothing wrong with melody, ladies! You three know how to make melodic hard rock without pandering. Please continue to do that!… Expand
  7. Gazcomsat
    Nov 22, 2005
    4
    As a fan of Sleater Kinney, I have to say I just don't get this album nor for that matter the majority of the reviews on this site. The songs are certainly heavier than previous offerings but mainly because they are so incredibly distorted. Take "Modern Girl" as an example. Everything starts out fine, melodic, nice vocals then you hit 2 minutes into the song and all hell breaks As a fan of Sleater Kinney, I have to say I just don't get this album nor for that matter the majority of the reviews on this site. The songs are certainly heavier than previous offerings but mainly because they are so incredibly distorted. Take "Modern Girl" as an example. Everything starts out fine, melodic, nice vocals then you hit 2 minutes into the song and all hell breaks loose. Nothing actually changes much as far as the band themselves are concerned but someone in their infinite wisdom thought it might add something to the track by pushing the distortion levels to the max rendering it virtually unlistenable. Why? What was the point? Nothing good was added to the song but it certainly makes for uncomfortable listening. Sleater Kinney aren't Led Zepelin nor do I want them to be. Corrin Tuckers voice is unusual enough to keep Sleater Kinney one step ahead of the pack without having to resort to this type of "experimentation". I don't see how the band could have actually listened to the album prior to it actually being pressed and think that it was ok. For me, this isn't going to be "a grower" because frankly, it's just plain bad. Unbelievably disappointing.… Expand
  8. KeithG
    Apr 25, 2012
    4
    There are some really great moments here. Sleater-Kinney show great cohesion and some really tight guitar work here at the end of their run. Still, I find the album too slow and too abrasive at points to truly enjoy. Download "Jumpers", "Entertain", and "Steep Air" but do not purchase the entire album.
  9. MichaelE
    Jun 2, 2005
    3
    Why everybody's going so crazy of this I just can't understand. It seemed to me what S-K had going for them was the clever interaction between the two voices, which is all but gone on this middling effort. Never liked them that much to begin with, mind you.
  10. cherylg
    Jun 3, 2005
    2
    I've been a S-K fan since the beginning, but this album really blows, just like they said on Splendidezine.com (the most spot-on review of the new album I've seen so far). I've been increasingly disappointed in each S-K release after Call the Doctor, and this one is the worst by far. Total sludge production and half-baked melodies and ideas. This band is on a downslide, as I've been a S-K fan since the beginning, but this album really blows, just like they said on Splendidezine.com (the most spot-on review of the new album I've seen so far). I've been increasingly disappointed in each S-K release after Call the Doctor, and this one is the worst by far. Total sludge production and half-baked melodies and ideas. This band is on a downslide, as much as I hate to say it. On their way to joining the likes of has-beens like Dave Pirner and Courtney Love. On this album, they sing self-rightously about how other bands suck and are nothing but "entertainers", but what are they really doing that is any different? Rock music IS entertainment, it's not activism and it's not going to save the world, get over it. The self-importance combined with the crappy songwriting on this album makes me want to hurl. and I am sad to say that. :(… Expand
  11. SayedS
    Jul 18, 2005
    2
    I can't really sit through this album. The screaming/yoddling really hurts my ears. I don't think I am crazy. I let my friends listen to it and they agree that her voice is to eratic and disturbing to listen too.
  12. lawrenceh
    Jun 23, 2005
    2
    This record is a fraud, a notch below a female version of Spinal Tap. I gave it 2 stars for production. Aside from the songs being unmelodious, the singing unlistenable and the playing pedestrian, I have nothibng further to add. The fraudulent attempt to ape Hendrix must leave the late great one turning in his grave. Lawrence H
  13. BrianB
    Sep 3, 2005
    1
    Perhaps this album could have been good, but the production is so horrible that you can barely listen to it. There is a term in mastering music called brickwalling, when the volume dynamic (the amount of volume variation) is reduced to nearly nothing. This is not the same as putting the guitar amps at 11. It's like they took the sound and squished all the soul out of it. Don't Perhaps this album could have been good, but the production is so horrible that you can barely listen to it. There is a term in mastering music called brickwalling, when the volume dynamic (the amount of volume variation) is reduced to nearly nothing. This is not the same as putting the guitar amps at 11. It's like they took the sound and squished all the soul out of it. Don't get me wrong: I like abrasive music. But this is literally the opposite of the Steve Albini/PJ Harvey Rid of Me sound, because all the life has been sucked out of the music in order to get it "loud." It's just bad mastering, plain and simple, and it made my stereo sound broken -- and not broken in a good way. I only listened to it once, and I may try to listen to it again... but I was so so so disappointed by this album. The singing was great, and the playing was tight, but I couldn't grasp any melodic feel to it. The first song is the best example: it starts out using lots of bended strings in different fret positions, and the result is that the "riff" never feels like it settles down in any key. Then, with the vocals on top of this riff made up of entirely bended strings, it feels melodically disorganized. Maybe it gets better with repeated listens, and maybe over time I will appreciate all these weird melodies. This is the worst mastering I've ever heard on an album. Are all these critics just praising the naked emperor, or am I just less able to instantly hear greatness? I generally agree with most critics, but this time, I have to disagree. I'm so disappointed. I was planning on loving this album and driving around with it blaring. *sigh*… Expand
  14. StevenL
    Nov 9, 2005
    1
    "Leeeeetttttt It gooooooooooooo." Someone please put Corin out of her misery and mine.
  15. JohnD.
    Oct 26, 2005
    1
    To those who say you must have a sophistocated ear to 'get' all that's going on in this music, I say give me a break. Sufjan Stevens, John Coltrane, Brian Wilson, Thelonious Monk, Wilco, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, etc. are all bands and muscians that are greatly appreciated by those with a deeper understanding of musical content and are willing to hear daring and inovative To those who say you must have a sophistocated ear to 'get' all that's going on in this music, I say give me a break. Sufjan Stevens, John Coltrane, Brian Wilson, Thelonious Monk, Wilco, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, etc. are all bands and muscians that are greatly appreciated by those with a deeper understanding of musical content and are willing to hear daring and inovative artists at work. One must also enter passion into the equation with any music to truly 'get it.' Passion for what's being said both lyrically and musically. To my ear, Sleater-Kinney is neither daring nor innovative on this deeply disappointing album. It is true that they are passionate about what they have created here (as are their numerous fans and the reviewers who have given this record positive reviews) but passion doesn't always make good music. Here are just a few things that bother me about this album: a lead singer who often tries to sing with a Bristish accent and is full of snarl and vigor but offers little in the way of true vocal talent; pointless, often childlike lyrics that say nothing new or orignal; feedback for the sake of feedback with no real purpose other than to say "this is our down and dirty album and screw you if you don't like it; Guitar solos that end up nowhere; a horribly mixed album where everything is thrown together and tossed and the result is what it is. It's true that in the world of rock and roll (alternative, punk, heavy metal, hard rock, indie) attitude counts for a lot and helps greatly to get your message accross, but what happens when that message is incoherent or at best muddled? The result is The Woods… Expand
  16. PaulP
    Jun 28, 2005
    1
    This record is a crack attempt at music. After first listen, I instantly knew that this was something I couldn't even recommend to my deaf friend. It was annoying, self-absorbed, whiney, and in general sounded like root-canal in Audio form. The "break downs" sound as though you are listening to that annoying kid in your math class that got a guitar a month ago, wears all black and is This record is a crack attempt at music. After first listen, I instantly knew that this was something I couldn't even recommend to my deaf friend. It was annoying, self-absorbed, whiney, and in general sounded like root-canal in Audio form. The "break downs" sound as though you are listening to that annoying kid in your math class that got a guitar a month ago, wears all black and is always really stoned. I literally think this is one of the worst albums I have ever heard, along with Kenny G. Kudos Sleater-Kinney, for giving a bad name to all girl bands to come after you.… Expand
  17. Sams
    Sep 26, 2005
    1
    Horribly Overrated.
  18. KeithR
    Sep 4, 2005
    0
    I can not believe that a worse album could get better reviews. Totally unlistenable!! Grating screehing for vocals. Horrible, unintelligent lyrics. Distortion used to cover up talentless noodling. It becomes laughable quite quickly. For the life of me, I can't understand how anyone could enjoy this crap.
  19. johnws
    Jun 14, 2005
    0
    I can't believe this album is getting such great reviews when U2's masterpeice is getting slammed by readers. This is garbage. Stay out of the woods.
  20. kylea
    Jul 5, 2005
    0
    First off i not only hate the cd and band but i hate anyone who likes the cd and or band. I think i can play the break downs and i had my deaf friend teach me guitar.I also hate them cos i had to do a comma test on them.This is the band my english teacher likes, go back to china darrow (shes not chinese).This album sounds as tho someone ate a fairy tail, puked it up, ate that again and First off i not only hate the cd and band but i hate anyone who likes the cd and or band. I think i can play the break downs and i had my deaf friend teach me guitar.I also hate them cos i had to do a comma test on them.This is the band my english teacher likes, go back to china darrow (shes not chinese).This album sounds as tho someone ate a fairy tail, puked it up, ate that again and then sh*t it up, thats how bad it is.Infact i herd that they use this as chinese torcher and thus the reason darrow got kicked out of there, because she liked it.In closing i hate you s-k dont make another cd for all of our sake (drop mic walk off stage)… Expand
  21. EleanorB
    Jun 13, 2005
    0
    What a bomb. What are they doing? Where are they going? What's up with all the posing and posturing and snarling lyrics that seem to imply they are better than other bands? Sonically, it's hard to take. You listen to it a couple times and have to set on the shelf and take a break because it becomes grating. "Entertain" is annoying. The message: Nostalgia is for losers, and so is What a bomb. What are they doing? Where are they going? What's up with all the posing and posturing and snarling lyrics that seem to imply they are better than other bands? Sonically, it's hard to take. You listen to it a couple times and have to set on the shelf and take a break because it becomes grating. "Entertain" is annoying. The message: Nostalgia is for losers, and so is listening to music for entertainment. Yet, the whole album is an attempt to rehash the past, with clear rip-offs of Hendrix and PJ Harvey and Nirvana. Talk about getting lost in the woods.… Expand
  22. S-Kfan
    Jun 13, 2005
    0
    Extremely disappointed. S-K has emerged as the new Spinal Tap. Self-righteous, pointless, laughable. Bordering on self-parody. Don't waste you're money.
  23. PDXR
    Jun 13, 2005
    0
    Barely accessible and disappointing. Worth a couple listens, but too scalding, abrasive and chaotic for repeat visits. Carrie B. is the ultimate poser, raging against nostalgia in "Entertain," when, in fact, her entire sound on "The Woods" is a direct rip off of the guitar rock of the late 60s and early 70s. Irony? I think not. Just a lot of posing. Maybe this should be the end of S-K..
  24. yeano
    Jun 14, 2005
    0
    self-important, grating junk.
  25. punkgirl
    Jun 14, 2005
    0
    what happened to sleater-kinney? why this album getting such great reviews? I haven't been able to get through it once.
  26. mikes
    Jul 15, 2005
    0
    sorry s-k fans, i tried to like this cd but it is too bland for my taste, the whole rave-up against nostalgia in "Entertain" is just bad. I am not against women in rock but this effort is severly overrated, but hey its just my opinion.
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best Album of 2005
24
#24 Most Discussed Album of 2005
64
#64 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Village Voice
    90
    Previous albums have never quite captured those onstage moments when the power they generate seems to catch them unawares, but on The Woods you can hear not only the deliberation in Weiss's eyes as she ponders the exact placement of beat and crash, or Brownstein's bedroom-mirror rock-star poses, but also the stunned grin Tucker can never contain after emitting her most gravity-defiant shrieks.
    Read full review
  2. Alternative Press
    100
    [They] clearly sound alive with the possibility of redefining punk song structure by writing 11-minute flamboyant guitar dirges that have as much in common with My Bloody Valentine as they do with '70s arena rock. [May 2005, p.170]
  3. Amazon.com
    80
    A smoldering rock and roll record that rivals John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band and Nirvana’s In Utero in terms of unexpectedness.
    Read full review
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