By Nicole Holman

Staff Writer

Fans of indie rock girl groups rejoice as Sleater-Kinney releases their newest album, “No Cities to Love.”

After a decade of studio silence, Sleater-Kinney returns with a fun and upbeat album that is fantastic from start to finish. Sleater-Kinney formed in Olympia, Washington in 1995 and was a pivotal part of the “riot grrl” and indie rock scene for a decade before they called it quits.

But Sleater-Kinney is back with the familiar sound their fans love yet sung with fresh vocals.

True to form, Corin Tucker’s lead vocals are nothing short of powerful. New listeners may recognize lead guitarist Carrie Brownstein from the hit comedy show Portlandia, who absolutely kills on every track. With Janet Weiss (of the Shins) on drums, each track delivers an expressive yet clean sound.

If you haven’t heard any of Sleater-Kinney’s work before, they have a similar sound of some of The Black Keys and Bikini Kill’s work. Sleater-Kinney’s first single off the album, “Bury Our Friends”, definitely pays homage to The Black Keys and the two bands’ ongoing influence on each other.

Deviating from their more recent LPs, “No Cities” is a fast-paced and more optimistic album, yet it still retains the band’s classic blend of social commentary and fantastic riffs.

The lyrics throughout this album are incredibly smart. Addressing relatable experiencing from as the draining monotonous daily grind of everyday life to expanding all the way to critiquing artistic mediocrity, “No Cities” leaves listeners with plenty to think about.

Never a band to shy away from a more aggressive sound, Sleater-Kinney delivers an energy in their new album that is sure to make you want to get up and move. With this album’s energy and powerful vocals, this is what you should be playing as you and your friends drive off toward warm weather and Spring Break.