Recordings | Jan. 29, 2015

By Cait Brennan, Jan. 29, 2015.

Sweater-Kinney | No Cities To Love | Sub Pop |

Long before she brought the absurdist comedy delights on IFC’s Portlandia, Carrie Brownstein was part of one of the most influential rock bands ever, Sleater-Kinney. From 1994 to its split in 2006, the band tore through seven albums with fearless riot-grrl fury, turning classic rock swagger on its head and shattering decades of stale girl-band stereotypes. Last year, their entire catalog was re-released in a must-have box set, and now they’re back with a powerful new record. This is no nostalgia trip: No Cities To Love might be their best work yet.

The punches come early and often. “Price Tag” calls out modern materialist culture with an angular, stacatto intensity, while “Surface Envy” tears the house down with a blistering Brownstein guitar riff and Corin Tucker’s soaring, howling-wolf vocal on an instant-classic chorus. You couldn’t call it a ballad, but the title track slows things down a bit, with Brownstein singing “I’ve grown afraid of everything that I love.”

The raw power keeps coming. “A New Wave” rocks the frenetic postpunk disaffection with thunderous results, while “No Anthems” paces the floor nervously before breaking into a distorted fury. The band’s power-trio dynamic has never sounded better, with a full, bass-heavy production that feels almost like a live show. “Fade” closes it out with sludgy guitars and a haunting do-not-go-gentle wail. “Tell me what do you see on the last script/yeah it’s a trip, what’s it all for?” Tucker sings. “If we are truly dancing our show, darling, shake it like never before.” Here’s hoping No Cities is no swan song, but just the start of more to come.

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WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

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by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

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Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

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