Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Day 0892 - Le Tigre

Le Tigre "Le Tigre" (1999)


Le Tigre - not just one of Derek Zoolander's many varied looks.

After the breakup of her riot grrrl (90s feminist punk movement) band Bikini Kill, Kathleen Hanna released a solo album under the name Julie Ruin.   She put together a band with Johanna Fateman and Sadie Benning to play the album live but they soon moved beyond that and began making music together.

The abrasive punk of Bikini Kill is less prominent here, outside of the odd track like "The The Empty".  There is still that coiled spring energy but it's channelled into much catchier (though still rocking and lo-fi) danceable fare, like opener "Deceptacon".  Or there's "Hot Topic" which name-checks a number of notable creative people in a way that works as almost a kind of beat poetry.   "My My Metrocard" has kitschy 60s, Austin Powers-esque organ over a shouted punchy groove.

The whole thing has a retro feel to it that seems like it's referencing catchy  50s and 60s pop-rock but without sounding specific to that period thanks to its underlying raw power and punk attitude.

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