Le Tigre

Had a listen to this when I first picked up the 1001 albums book a couple of years ago, thought it was ace. Turns out I have a soft spot for riot grrrl bands. It's been on regular rotation ever since.

Love this album for its energy and really great songwriting. So many catchy songs and interesting lyrics on here. I definitely prefer Sleater-Kinny where Riotgrrl is concerned, but Kathleen Hanna is a real legend. I had a bit of an obsession with Deceptacon for a while over the COVID years, and it was a constant on my early jogging playlists. Hadn't really done a deep dive into the album until now though, glad I did!

It's a great record, too bad the second half is a bit less. This is just old-school feminist punk à la X-Ray Spex, but with some electroclash where the horns sounded twenty years ago. Nice and sharp and fresh, but not outstanding.

How is this 25 years old!
It's riot grrl *and* girly. Deeply progressive and light and fluffy. Feminist and knowingly cheesy.

Honestly this was fun. 90s punk girls getting their rage out. It's a fun mood to be in.

While it does stumble as it goes on, leading to bouts that don't quite get the listener as engaged, the majority of the album has this perfect blend of raw energy perfect for a punk album while still having a more, well, 90s side, that allows for the listener to not only get up and dance to the grooves, but also feel like they're rebelling against something along with the band, and that makes it feel like the perfect blend of 90s electronic dance with something just angry enough to stage a riot. The vocals can be seen as annoying perhaps, but they're easy to adjust to, and then I find them pretty enthralling, like the radio show filter over everything perfectly matches the electronic influences, and I do enjoy how it kind of mellows out near the end, closing with something more jangle-y than anything, it's like a nice treat. This is just an album that feels like it appeals to everyone, and those it doesn't appeal to it wouldn't want to any way, and I can jam with that, for sure.

Maybe the algorithm Gods knew we needed a bit of 90s feminist disco punk to shake things up and remind us how varied and interesting music can be. Proper breath of fresh air.

Deceptacon overshadows things maybe (and must be a top 10 indie disco classic) but the whole thing is an exciting, unpredictable listen. Who else is writing songs like What's Yr Take on Cassavetes?

how r u?
fn thx u.

Kathleen Hannah rules

This is a pretty basic album. Instrumentation is simple, production is simple, mixing is rudimentary. But I think that's the point of this one. It sounds like an album that was recorded in someone's garage. The use of a drum machine instead of an actual drummer kind of irks me a little. Typically I'm a sucker for female rock bands but while I like this, I don't think I would really play it again. I find myself thinking that this was sort of a missed opportunity and that the songs would be so much better with a little step up in production. I love the message, I love the sentiment, but the music is just lacking a little for me. I would be very interested to hear some other things they did after this album; I feel like they were a band that could have grown into something great. I wanted to like this record more than I did and I think I'd rate it like a 2.75/5.

Tightly wired spring coiled punk rock with a lofi electro new wave synth sound and a high energy post punk dancing beat: it's the death disco formula, with a 90s art school feminist sensibility and DIY aesthetic. There is more of a 60s garage psych rock back to basics rock&roll feel to it than I expected on a few tracks. Powerful and fun, touchingly earnest and sweetly melodic, distorted as scuzzy but always under precise control, pissed off and jarring- it's a pretty wide ranging creative album that goes hard from start to finish.

Favorites: deceptacon, the the empty, eau de bedroom dancing

I'm really not a fan of Le Tigre. The vocals just feel like the singer wasn't even hitting notes properly and that was mostly what helped it get so annoying. The lyrics are also non-sensical in a majority of the songs (especially on What's Yr Take on Cassavetes and Dude, Yr So Crazy!) They really need to know that saying random words at random times are not proper song lyrics. The music is actually fine throughout the majority of the album and probably the best part but there were songs that tanked in that regard too. The album thankfully is mercifully short at around only 2 or 3 minutes for every song. This album might not be as bad as the other 1 star albums i have looked at but it is still far from good.
Best Song: Slideshow At Free University
Worst Song: Les and Ray

Nothing original here. Seems like I’ve heard this clone before but with better execution. Repetitive and monotone. Seems like it was someone’s HS music class project. What criteria got this album on a list of ‘must listen’? I had to force myself to listen to at least part of each song on my commitment to the list.

Didn't hate it, but I didn't like it either. Nothing special. The second song sounds like a commercial for boots.

Enjoyable throughout. Neat to hear an all female group on this list.

Like a mixture of 60s pop, the Go Gos and early B52s, I liked this rather a lot. Opening track is the standout.

Never heard their music, but deceptacon sounded familiar right away.
This sounds very 90s. Not my jam, but I don't hate it, 2*
Highlights: deceptacon, slideshow at free university
Metric came on after this and I was like, ah yes, this is a refined version of le tigre.

Le Tigre sounds like a bunch of Asian school girls are singing vocals.

Favourite songs: Deceptacon, Let's Run

Least favourite songs: Dude Yr So Crazy!!

2/5

Le Tigre sure is le fun. Pretty enjoyable listen overall.

Loved it a lot was an interesting listen. Angry women music is always good