Good for Corin Tucker. She could have easily released an album that sounded just like Sleater-Kinney and most people, including myself, would have wet their pants in excitement. But Corin chose to branch out and work with a new sonic palette. That’s not to say that 1,000 Years is a salsa or hip-hop album. Corin still stands at the forefront, but maybe time as a stay-at-home mom has altered her perception of life (I know I am changed forever when my wife leaves town for a weekend). This quote sums the album up nicely: “Thats the artistic, itchy personality,” Tucker says. “Youre constantly trying to do something different.”
The songs touch on common daily subjects and the struggle of sometimes, well, just being. “Half A World Away,” a song that could be celebrated by a number of spouses in my neighborhood, is about having your partner gone for long stretches at a time for careers. “I just want to say how much I love my husband. . . there are moments when Im raising two kids when hes gone and Im just trying cope.”
The lead track, “Doubt,” is a tune where you hear Tucker’s trademark S-K vocals and its nice to know she can still belt it out. My four year old girl riot grrrl, Rosie, thrashed around to this one. “Dragon,” which I gather is a song she put together for the Twilight film, works in some cello, which combined with her vocals, reminds me of the Nirvana Unplugged set. Then “Thrift Store Coats” takes a look at the struggles that many Americans have found themselves in.
There are points in this album where you’ll find yourself wanting Tucker to unleash her trademark vocals from Sleater-Kinney, but upon many subsequent listens, you’ll miss them less and less. And then you realize that you are listening to one of the best albums of the year.
