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One Beat Image
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 38 Ratings

  • Summary: The acclaimed indie-rock trio from Olympia, Wash. return with their sixth album.

Top Track

One Beat
I'm a bubble in a sound wave A sonic push for energy Exploding like the sun A flash of clean light hope All you scientists can hold your breath Can I... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Sleater-Kinney... go for defiant uplift and seem energized by the challenge.
  2. An uncompromising, energetic monster of a record.
  3. One Beat joins the likes of Fugazi's In On the Killtaker and Bikini Kill's Reject All American for its impassioned new-world resistance, and could very well be the greatest triumph of punk independence since Black Flag.
  4. The group sometimes sacrifices immediacy for angular melodies and riffs that don’t catch hold. On balance, though, One Beat’s musical progression is still extremely impressive.
  5. Their riotous manifesto remains the same, but their musical dialect has expanded to include blues, soul and even traces of pristine Led Zeppelin-era metal.
  6. One Beat is ruthless with SuperGlue riffs that reach back a decade or more, from the Go-Gos pogo of "Oh!" to the stuttering Cure guitars of "The Remainder" to the Buzzcocks toolings of "Hollywood Ending."
  7. Sleater-Kinney’s weakest album in years.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. GarlandB.
    Aug 17, 2002
    10
    Completley thrilling.
  2. Jan 15, 2015
    10
    Honestly, my first exposure to the band, and I've been an addict since. Though written and released a decade ago, man, does it still ringHonestly, my first exposure to the band, and I've been an addict since. Though written and released a decade ago, man, does it still ring true today, even if the names and targets have changed. Expand
  3. IanC.
    Aug 22, 2002
    10
    I wasn't a huge fan of this record when I first bought it. After listening to it several times, it's now my favorite SK album. The I wasn't a huge fan of this record when I first bought it. After listening to it several times, it's now my favorite SK album. The new sounds and instrumentation that the group has added take all these songs up a level. Basically, I love "One Beat" because it pushes SK's sound further and I know that I'll be able to look forward to many more records by a band still in its stride. Expand
  4. JamesA
    Aug 30, 2002
    10
    I haven't been this excited about music in a long time!
  5. AndrewI
    Sep 16, 2002
    10
    I think this is the most thrilling band in the world right now. This essential album might be their best, might not - does it really matter?
  6. TimE.
    Jan 13, 2005
    9
    You can't beat "One Beat." The greatest and most meaningful songs of their career. You can even shake, mosh and groove to the funky You can't beat "One Beat." The greatest and most meaningful songs of their career. You can even shake, mosh and groove to the funky beats of "one Beat." Expand
  7. BillyD.
    Aug 16, 2002
    8
    Mostly in the same rocking-yet-serious vein as The Hot Rock (thought not up that album's gold standard). The best tracks are the ones Mostly in the same rocking-yet-serious vein as The Hot Rock (thought not up that album's gold standard). The best tracks are the ones that are the most far out and experimental, like the title track, Oh!, and Sympathy. The radical (but thoughtful) political sentiments and Carrie's new, "rougher" style of singing might take some getting used to. Overall, a fantastic album, but not S-K's best ever. Expand

See all 10 User Reviews