Sleater-Kinney became one of the best and most important bands of the era by growing up and growing out of the scene that spawned them.

Initially inspired by the riot-grrrl movement of the early '90s, the all-female Olympia, Wash.-based trio quickly found its own voice within that often-stagnate scene, as you'll see in our list of Sleater-Kinney Albums Ranked in Order of Awesomeness.

By the time of their third album, Dig Me Out, in 1997, Sleater-Kinney had nailed down everything that made them so vital over the next decade: Corin Tucker's wailing howl, her stabbing musical interplay with co-singer and guitarist Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss' positively rhythmic drumming.

Their punk-influenced social and political beliefs were in place early, but as they matured as artists, they evolved to include sharp commentary on their feminism, the music around them and their crumbling relationships. They went deeper and with more honest intensity than most of their peers. And they weren't afraid to musically grow up, either. They became more melodic over time, without ever sacrificing the indie-rock foundations that helped shape them.

Plus, the way they went out, and came back, went against the way these things were usually done. Their great 2005 album, The Woods, was designed to be a farewell, but a decade later they returned with an even better comeback record, No Cities to Love. How many other bands came claim that?

Both of those albums check in near the top of our list of Sleater-Kinney Albums Ranked in Order of Awesomeness. Check it out below.

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