CD Review

Known as much for their music as the political drive behind it, Le Tigre is anything other than shy. They are tiny explosions set to new wave beats, putting the power back in 80s pop. Self-described “Feminist Punk,” Le Tigre has earned a reputation as DIY cover girls. Made up of Kathleen Hanna (formerly of Bikini Kill), Johanna Fateman and JD Samson, Le Tigre’s agenda has been referred to as “fun mixed with awareness.”

Amidst lyrics like “Hey we want a universal healthcare deal/And we want Kissinger on trial for real/We got a right wing kind making third world war/A**holes, oil guys” small drama packets of soap hide themselves until the beat of music makes the bubbles rise. “Take Tell you Now” exclaims “I’ll just tell you now, cause I don’t think you know/ the things you tried to kill found a way to grow/You may have made your mark, but I’m still here today knowing who you are.” On “Nanny Nanny Boo Boo,” Le Tigre eats up attitude and spits it out with a Blondie-like determination: “Alright we’ve been talking to liars/and it’s all right, just not the style of tigers.”

Le Tigre may be growing up (this is their first major label album), but their music isn’t exactly taking us places we’ve never ever been. Sometimes suffering from the “I’m too cool to be a rock star,” Le Tigre’s music is what it is and if you start reading more into it, you’re probably not cool enough to hang out with the Tigre crew anyway.

E.C. Thomas is an independent filmmaker, photographer and writer in Boston: dragonflyROAR.com.