Slint's first album Tweez was recorded by legendary sound engineer Steve Albini in 1987 and released in obscurity on the Jennifer Hartman Records label in 1989. It was followed two years later by the critically acclaimed Spiderland, released on the legendary independent label Touch and Go Records.
Considered a seminal work, Spiderland is an album characterised by its dark, syncopated rhythms, sparse guitar lines, and strange spoken-word esque vocal style. The record's impact was such that, according to some, it helped to usher in a new wave of bands seeking a move away from the unfettered aggression of hardcore punk but not its underlying ethic. The cover of Spiderland is from a series of photos of the band taken by the Louisville singer-musician Will Oldham. Spiderland culminates in the baleful "Good Morning, Captain", perhaps their most recognised track (it would later feature on the soundtrack to the Larry Clark film Kids, though not in the film itself).
Touch & Go reissued Tweez in 1993. Finally, in 1994 a brief untitled EP was released posthumously. This two song record was actually recorded in 1989 and was originally intended to be released as a 12" single on Jennifer Hartman Records. Original copies of the Tweez LP included a flyer advertisement for the 12" as an insert. However, Slint signed to Touch & Go before it was sent to press and the master tapes were shelved.
Members of Slint have since appeared in a number of bands. Former guitarist David Pajo currently performs under the moniker Papa M and also plays bass for the NYC street metal band Early Man. Pajo was also a member of Tortoise, Palace, and the short-lived Billy Corgan-fronted rock band Zwan before their breakup in 2003. Guitarist Brian McMahan formed The For Carnation in 1994 and also played with Palace. Britt Walford played drums in Evergreen, and for The Breeders under the pseudonym Shannon Doughton on the album Pod and as Mike Hunt on the Safari EP. Ethan Buckler plays in King Kong (the original line up of Slint makes up King Kong on the 1989 7" "Movie Star").
Nearly fifteen years after disbanding, three members of Slint — Brian McMahan, David Pajo, and Britt Walford — reunited to curate the 2005 All Tomorrow's Parties (ATP) music festival in Camber Sands, England. Also in 2005, Slint played a number of shows in the U.S. and in Europe. Though they insisted the reunion was short-term, the band regrouped once again in 2007 to perform Spiderland in its entirety in Barcelona as part of the Primavera Sound Festival, in London as part of the ATP Don't Look Back series of shows, as well as at a handful of dates in Europe, the U.S. (at Chicago's Pitchfork Music Festival, the Showbox in Seattle, and the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood), and Canada in 2007.
In a September 2012 interview conducted with Northern Irish music publication AU Magazine, David Pajo hinted at more activity from the band in the coming months: "We still communicate regularly and we've got some surprises for next year that fans will be excited about. I know I am."
The band reunited in December 2013 to play as one of the headliners of the final All Tomorrow's Parties holiday camp festival in Camber Sands, England.
In an August 2013 interview with Vish Khanna, former producer Steve Albini revealed that the band was working on remastering their second album Spiderland with producer Bob Weston. The deluxe Spiderland boxset was announced in January 2014.
In 2014, the band also performed at the Primavera Sound music festival in Spain and Portugal and Green Man Festival in Wales.
Warren
Slint Lyrics
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She would take a ride, a state of pain
And once she throws a tantrum
She shakes the place to hell
Sh-
The lyrics of Slint's Warren are known for their cryptic nature and are open to interpretation. However, a common interpretation is that the song is about a troubled woman, possibly a drug addict or someone dealing with mental illness. The first line, "I heard it shake full of passive bore," suggests that the woman is bored and dissatisfied with her life. The second line, "She would take a ride, a state of pain," could refer to her using drugs or engaging in self-destructive behavior as a way of escaping from her problems.
The next two lines, "And once she throws a tantrum/She shakes the place to hell," suggest that when the woman becomes emotional, she becomes volatile and destructive. This could be a reference to her lashing out at others or engaging in harmful behavior towards herself.
The final line, "Oh, Jesus. Hand me those goddamn tweezers," is a non sequitur that adds to the overall sense of confusion and unease in the song. It's unclear who is speaking or what they need tweezers for, but it could be interpreted as a plea for help or a symbol of the woman's desperation.
Overall, the lyrics of Warren are haunting and enigmatic, leaving listeners to contemplate their possible meanings and implications.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard it shake full of passive bore
I listened as the emptiness and monotony consumed her entirely
She would take a ride, a state of pain
She would indulge in emotional self-harm to escape the mundanity of her life
And once she throws a tantrum
And when pushed to her breaking point
She shakes the place to hell
She unleashes a fury that wreaks havoc on everything around her
Sh-
Unfinished exclamation, possibly a reaction to painful memories
"Oh, Jesus. Hand me those goddamn tweezers."
An abrupt and unrelated interruption, highlighting the chaotic nature of the singer's thoughts and experiences
Contributed by Victoria N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.