Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Both fun and thought-provoking, June 10, 2000
I've never written a fan letter before, but since listening to this album, I'm very tempted to write the three talented women of Le Tigre and thank them for reclaiming music as a medium that can inform, challenge, entertain, and inspire.Not only are the songs themselves danceable and full of great melodies, but the lyrics are worth a close listen. The names invoked on "Hot Topic" (not unlike the [in]famous Billy Joel "We Didn't Start the Fire") are worthy of investigation-- from Sleater-Kinney to David Wojnarowicz. And the simple poetry of "Les and Ray" (the final song on the album) is truly touching. As always, Kathleen Hanna is a major force behind the group's sound and energy, but the other two members are not to be ignored for their contributions. Sadie Benning was recently profiled in Time magazine of all places, and Johanna Fateman is the group's connection to the New York art scene. All three combine to produce an album that's thought-provoking-- but actually a real joy to listen to. One of my favorite albums of all time (and I'm actually a classical musician!).
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a way to end a millenium..., November 18, 1999
This stuff is a lot poppier than BK, but that doesn't make it any less good. This album is a culmination of Hanna's BK and Julie Ruin work. In addition to being poppier, she's also a lot less crankier, with the exception of "Metrocard", where they rail at Giuliani for turning Times Square into Disney World. Although I like BK and JR, I found this to be an easier listen. Easily one of the best albums I've heard all year (along with Bis' "Social Dancing"). I highly recommend this.
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23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Le Tigre's Le Tigre, June 7, 2000
Social protest? Dance fun? Social protest? Dance fun? What's your take on Le Tigre? Luckily, its both and so much more. Who would have thought "revolution girl style now" could have been so infectious or catchy? Le Tigre consists of ex-Bikini Kill Kathleen Hanna, a zine writer, and an indie filmmaker. Perhaps this motely collection of bursting creativty and energy lends itself to such a wildly fun record. At first listen, Le Tigre is instantly catchy, an explosive spontaneous dance album. There's no monotomous pattern here, Le Tigre tries a little of different musical styles never comitting themselves to one, making their debut album all the more exciting and hilarious. Riot grrls everywhere should've found out the simple yet devastatingly effective use of bouncy cheerful sing-a-longs. Le Tigre take it to the extreme, but come out unscarred and credibility in tact due to the intelligent, witty lyrics. But we've come to expect nothing less from Kathleen Hanna at the helm. "Deceptacon" is a fast-paced, hand-clapping, hard-hitting opener to the album. When Hanna cries "I'm so bored that I'd be entertained even by a stupid f***in' linoleum floor...Your lyrics are dumb like a linoleum floor. I'll walk on it! I'll walk over you!" you can't help but laugh. "Hot Topic" is a delightfully catchy tribute to certain feminists, encouraging them in their beliefs and activism with everyone from Aretha Franklin to Sleater-Kinney to Yoko Ono to Gayatri Spivak included. If "Hot Topic" doesn't get you singing along and dancing then you probably are a linoleum floor. "The The Empty" resembles Bikini Kill more than anything else on the album, grinding guitars drive Kathleen Hanna's Valley Girl delivery forward with unrelenting momentum, only stopping for a second to allow you enough room to breathe and for Kathleen Hanna to sneer "Oh baby!" before blasting off again. "Phanta" is a creative science-fiction spin with a stuttery robotic beat encompassing bleeps and blips and control tower emissions. "Eau D'Bedroom Dancing" which translates to "Water of Bedroom Dancing", which I won't pretend to understand, but its a beautiful love song that floats like water and had me dancing in my bedroom. "My My Metrocard" takes a stab at Giuliani for shutting the stripbars all disguised in a deceptively cheerful sing-a-long. Two finger snaps start off "Les and Ray", a sparkling dedication to old neighbors who used to play the piano. "You were my oxygen, the thing that made me think I could escape." Kathleen croons. It's also a song for any of us whoever used music as an escape. If all that glitters is not gold when inside it's dead, then Le Tigre glitters like gold AND its full of life.
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by Le Tigre 
