Album 13, Le Tigre "Le Tigre"
Some days you just need some riot grrrl in your ears.
Le Tigre
Le Tigre
1999
Lo-fi, political, feminist, uncompromising. Le Tigre, fronted by Kathleen Hanna, formerly of Bikini Kill, are all of these things and more. Happily in your face and not afraid to scream a lyric when it seems called for, Le Tigre are tired of your bullshit and have been since the late 90s. But to dismiss them as just a political act or a one trick pony definitely misses some clever verbal gymnastics and musicality. I freely admit to liking dense music, the proverbial wall of sound. But in Le Tigre, and similar bands, I do admire the ability to cut the fluff and find the minimum that is needed to create a song and make it catchy. Take the third track "What's Yr Take on Cassavetes?" the track starts with a droning guitar riff and an earnest spoken section decrying something hidden between two people and not discussed. Could it be their true feelings for each other? Then just the synth kicks in and we get the chorus "What's your take on Cassavetes?" as the two opposing voices try to define the legacy of an important figure who's art differed from their personality. The song has just the parts it needs and nothing extra. It's a lovely little piece of song craft that you will find yourself humming for no reason days hence.
But that's the album. 12 tracks, all under 4 minutes. Thankfully, punk is not dead. Hard to pick highlights as the whole album is good and chock full of little surprises like the samples on "Slideshow At Free University". But truth be told the album is worth the price of admission just for "My My Metrocard". Starting off with a bouncy 60s organ, Le Tigre jump right in to sing about the humble NYC Metrocard and all its possibilities "Think I'll go a little but then I go far." (I started this review pre-COVID, and man, does this hit just a little harder now.) And how about the the wonderful slagging of Rudy Giuliani. I am still amazed how many Americans don't realize how much the majority of NYC hates that man.
20 years later and this still feels fresh both musically and lyrically. Which is good, but also means we still have a long way to go.
Lo-fi, political, feminist, uncompromising. Le Tigre, fronted by Kathleen Hanna, formerly of Bikini Kill, are all of these things and more. Happily in your face and not afraid to scream a lyric when it seems called for, Le Tigre are tired of your bullshit and have been since the late 90s. But to dismiss them as just a political act or a one trick pony definitely misses some clever verbal gymnastics and musicality. I freely admit to liking dense music, the proverbial wall of sound. But in Le Tigre, and similar bands, I do admire the ability to cut the fluff and find the minimum that is needed to create a song and make it catchy. Take the third track "What's Yr Take on Cassavetes?" the track starts with a droning guitar riff and an earnest spoken section decrying something hidden between two people and not discussed. Could it be their true feelings for each other? Then just the synth kicks in and we get the chorus "What's your take on Cassavetes?" as the two opposing voices try to define the legacy of an important figure who's art differed from their personality. The song has just the parts it needs and nothing extra. It's a lovely little piece of song craft that you will find yourself humming for no reason days hence.
But that's the album. 12 tracks, all under 4 minutes. Thankfully, punk is not dead. Hard to pick highlights as the whole album is good and chock full of little surprises like the samples on "Slideshow At Free University". But truth be told the album is worth the price of admission just for "My My Metrocard". Starting off with a bouncy 60s organ, Le Tigre jump right in to sing about the humble NYC Metrocard and all its possibilities "Think I'll go a little but then I go far." (I started this review pre-COVID, and man, does this hit just a little harder now.) And how about the the wonderful slagging of Rudy Giuliani. I am still amazed how many Americans don't realize how much the majority of NYC hates that man.
20 years later and this still feels fresh both musically and lyrically. Which is good, but also means we still have a long way to go.
Comments
Post a Comment