3 posts tagged “kathleen hanna”

Le Tigre - Deceptacon Le Tigre Discography [1999] Le Tigre [2001] Feminist Sweepstakes [2004] This Island Read More Le Tigre http://weheartmus... I have all of Le Tigre's albums and EPs on CD as I am a pretty big riot grrrl fan. I actually hav... Riot Grrrls http://weheartmus... I've always been fond of this music genre, which started in the early 90s through music and fanz...

Le Tigre, "The Tiger", is undoubtably the best project that Kathleen Hanna's been involved in since Bikini Kill. Originally, this band was conceived to be a "live" version of her solo effort, Julie Ruin, but as it developed between Johanna Fatman and Sadie Bennings, they quickly realized this was a birth of a new sound and a new band.

Although Bikini Kill was more DIY/Riot Grrrl, Le Tigre's sound, although still involved in feminism, seems to emphasize on dance, visual performance art, and electro. Take a listen to their first single, Hot Topic to hear what a wonderful tribute to strong women throughout the years, backed by a great drum beat and chorus.

My favorite moment was when I was listening to this song, quite loudly in my car, at a stop light. I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings, but apparently these black youths in the car next to me were rocking out to this song. They absolutely loved it.

I listened to their debut album constantly around this time, and I can tell you these are the songs that never got skipped:

"Deceptacon": absolutely love this song. This is also a great track to play at a dance club, I remember hearing this at Popscene in San Francisco and the audience loved it.

"Hot Topic": See comment above. I love hearing and picking up on all the artists mentioned, including Sleater-Kinny, Yoko Ono, Cibo Matto, Leslie Feinberg, etc.

"The The Empty": Contains the best lyrics: "I went to your concert and I didn't feel a thing/Oh Baby, why won't you talk to me?/Oh baby, you just want me empty!"

"My My Metrocard": When I was in New York, I suddenly realized how much this song is so closely tied to the metro: "Next Stop: Atlantic Avenue/Next Stop: Christopher Street/Next Stop: Transfer to the/Next Stop: A, C, or E"

"Les and Ray": The lyrics to this song suggests that these were Kathleen's neighbors when she was very young. She used to put her head next to the wall to hear these two guys composing music and it really inspired her... at least that's what the song is about.

While waiting for their sophomore album, I found this little EP, From the Desk of Mr Lady, at Circuit City. I think, also by this time JD Samson came on as a full member of Le Tigre, while Sadie retired quietly in the background.

I thought there were a couple of good songs on the EP: "Get Off the Internet" (relates to me...) and "Gone B4 Yr Home" (a nice pop song)

I did wanted to talk about their song "Bang! Bang!", it's about Amadou Diallo, who was shot 41 times by four officers. When I saw Le Tigre live, when they performed this song, they asked us to note how long counting to 41 was (it was the longest part of the song it seems).

By the time Feminist Sweepstakes came out in the winter of '01, I was still in love with Le Tigre. I thought this album was a little militant and I kind of felt slightly discriminated because I wasn't "a lady or a fag", as they put it on "LT Tour Theme".

Some may argue that it's not anti-men, but I really felt like this album didn't want any men to listen to it. The women-only theme continues on "F.Y.R." (which stands for "Fifty years of ridicule"), "Dyke March 2001", "TGIF", just to name a few.

One of the few favorite off this album, for me, was "On Guard", which contains a catchy line: "En Garde, let me see you shake it baby, shake it some more"

After picking up the rather disappointing Remix EP, containing remixes by various DJs, I was pretty much convinced that I should stop buying remix EPs (which is why I've avoided getting This Island Remixes). Like Randy, I'm not a fan of remixes (although occasionally, I will admit, some remixes are much better than the original).

I would only recommend people to pick up the Remix EP if you're a hardcore Le Tigre/Kathleen Hanna fan, otherwise, I couldn't endorse this.

Le Tigre - TKO

Le Tigre - I'm So Excited 1 comment

In 2004, This Island made its debut on a (gasp!) major record label, Universal Records. No idea why a major label would want to pick up a band with such a niche audience (no offense, but Le Tigre are more political and feminist-charged rather than "mass appeal").

There's a couple of good tracks off the new album, which is tame compared to Feminist Sweepstakes.

I liked "Nanny Nanny Boo Boo", which was a fun song, The Pointer Sister cover song, "I'm So Excited", and "TKO". They tried to market the later as single, it contains the ironic line "TKO/heard it on the radio", which as you know never quite made it to popular radio.

There was another effort to release After Dark as a single, but I have never found this single (and never bothered to do ebay, etc).

So, where are Le Tigre now? They're currently taking an extended break since 2007. The band (minus Kathleen Hanna) formed Men, but I haven't heard anything from this band yet. I'll definitely keep my eyes open for new material from Men, Le Tigre, or Kathleen Hanna, so keep on livin'.

Links: www.letigreworld.com myspace.com/letigre

In answer to Cock Rock and Wizard Rock, comes: Riot Grrrl!

Let's be clear about this, this is not a definitive guide to all things Riot Grrrl, but just some selections of music that I have and liked.

I've always been fond of this music genre, which started in the early 90s through music and fanzines. The origin of the name seems to have come from Jen Smith (Bratmobile) writing a letter to Allison Wolfe about how the Summer of 1991 was going "to be a girl riot." Soon afterwards, Wolfe, Kathleen Hanna and Tobi Vail were inspired to create a fanzine called Riot Grrrl.

The explosion of Riot Grrrl music and political and social message leaked into the mass media. Soon, there was a backlash of Grrrl being "anti-men". Imagine that! By 1994-1995, there were hundreds of bands in this genre. Although Riot Grrrl still exists to this day, it's not that prevalent (at least in music).

Here are some Riots I like:

BIKINI KILL THE Riot Grrrl band. This is just a quick summary, I'm sure I will be revisiting for a more in-depth look at Kathleen Hanna's career. The first song I heard from them is "New Radio", so I got into them late in the game. But it was the most amazingly different song I've ever heard. I didn't have a record player for the longest time, so I'm glad they compiled all the 7" into Singles on CD in 1998 (by which time they had broke up).

Bikini Kill - New Radio 1 comment

BRATMOBILE The other band that's closely tied to the Riot movement. I have Pottymouth (1993), but I did not actually see them live until years later when they reformed and toured with Le Tigre. I picked up Ladies, Women and Girls (2000) immediately and discovered that after a seven years gap, that they sound EXACTLY the same! There's something very comforting in that. Trivia: I think one of the girl dated Graham Coxon, so they did a medley of "There's No Other Way" and "No You Don't" on John Peel's radio show.

Bratmobile - Cheap Trick Record

TEAM DRESCH I only have Personal Best (1994), which I'm assuming the cover is also a recreation of Mariel Hemingway's movie "Personal Best" (1982). They're known as a queercore band, but I've never really thought of them that hardcore (loud) as Lunachicks or Babes in Toyland. They broke up, but reformed in 2004 for some shows.

Team Dresch - Fagetarian and Dyke 2 comments

THE SMEARS I have always associated these three girls to be part of Riot, but I don't think these girls actually wanted to be part of that movement. Their album Love is Fer Suckers (1994) is fantastic. I believe they named their album off a Twisted Sisters song! They sound like a girls version of the Ramones!

The Smears - Honey Jar

EXCUSE 17 Excuse 17 was a short-lived band, releasing only two albums, Excuse Seventeen (1994) and Such Friends Are Dangerous (1995), before breaking up. Carrie Brownstein went on to join this band called Sleater-Kinney.

Excuse 17 - Special Guest, Me 2 comments

HUGGY BEAR I've always thought they were a girl band, but when I bought the album, Weaponry Listens to Love (1994), I was disappointed to hear that it's mostly driven by singer Chris Rowley. If you're looking for more sound like "No Sleep" off of Taking the Rough with the Smooch (1993), then don't get Weaponry (unless you like Punk music, it's a pretty good punk album). Trivia: Nude Records wanted to sign these guys really badly. Huggy Bear said they'd only sign if Nude drop Suede. Suede was Nude's biggest money-making band, so of course there was no deal.

Huggy Bear - No Sleep

CHIA PET Inspired by Riot Grrrls, the girl editors at Sassy Magazine form Chia Pet in 1992. They were not that serious about it, but managed to release one single and contributed one song on the Freedom of Choice CD. Their "Hey Baby" song is quite good and I think really represented the Riot sound.

Chia Pet - Hey Baby 4 comments

Before you mention that I am missing certain bands, that is because I don't have their albums.  I know regrettably I don't really have any Babes in Toyland or Lunachicks.  Although I do have cover songs they both did, which may surface on cover lover.  Here's Lunachicks' Heart of Glass and watch for a Carpenters cover by Babes in Toyland.

Related: Bangs - Scorpi-oh, Le Tigre - Bang! Bang!, and Chia Pet - Hey (Don't You Want Me) Baby

 July 14, 2007 2:55 PM  vu my w♥m posts vu@weheartmusic.com  hot-topic.org/riotgrrrl

I got inspired by BAng BAng PArty !, so I'm adding a few in. I do have a lot more "Bang" songs, including that awesome "Bang a Gong" song by T.Rex, but that's already mentioned in that post.

So a short introduction to each Bang songs:

● Bangs (not "the Bangs") are from Olympia, Washington, so I often associate them with Sleater-Kinney. I love this song, "Scorpi-Oh".

● S*M*A*S*H are another personal favorite. They've only have one album before breaking up due to drugs and depression. They reformed a few years ago, and I have an official/fan website on them (s-m-a-s-h.net).

● Bertrand Betsch has a French version of "Bang Bang", it's pretty good.

● I also like Isobel Campbell's version of "Bang Bang" as well ... if you listen on headphones, it uses "stereo" so you'll hear some sounds in the left and right speakers.

● Art Brut has an album and title track called "Bang Bang Rock & Roll".

● I have all of Le Tigre's albums and EPs on CD as I am a pretty big riot grrrl fan. I actually haven't really liked the latest Le Tigre's stuff, but am more of a fan of old Bikini Kill.  However, the first Le Tigre album is amazing.  Maybe in my next post, I will talk about another favorite, Bratmobile :)

● Lastly, here's the Archies doing "Bang Shang a Lang", which I believe was a big hit for this cartoon band :) The real "band" are session musicians, assembled by Don Kirshner. Most of the hits were written and sung by Jeff Barry.

● SMAP is not my audio. It's in Japanese.

Super-easy, but bonus points for anyone who can guess where the title of this post came from.

vu wikipedia.org/Bangs | s-m-a-s-h.net | bertrandbetsch.com | isobelcampbell.com | artbrut.org.uk | letigreworld.com