When Le Tigre released their self-titled debut album back in 1999 the band had conceived and delivered a perfect mix of synth-pop electro-punkish music and lyrics that proved political views could be expressed without needing to beat someone over the head with dour or heavy-handed seriousness. They had a devolution style reclamation of technology that turned the Luhanian “medium is the the message” to their advantage.
Their feminist inspired politics were broadcast through danceable tracks with catchy beats and infectiously fun and memorable songs like “Deceptacon” and “What’s Ya take on Casavedes?” With samplings, drum machines, jangling guitar lay-overs and the sassy whine of their lyrics, the band’s sound was a refreshing revisitation of new wave and 80s punk icons like the Go-Gos, ESG or the B-52s made over with a Riot Grrl’s punkish eye for astutely savvy pop culture critique.
This year, Kathleen Hanna, Johanna Fateman, and JD Samson have released their major label debut for Universal Music, a division of UMG, “This Island.” Thankfully, Le Tigre’s signature sound has survived the refined production, though admittedly I miss the lo-fi quality of earlier releases. Le Tigre’s musicianship has improved through the last five years, as the girls grow more and more adept at their blending of sampling and electronic manipulations and the production highlights this fact. However, the music notwithstanding, of great concern for this fan is that Le Tigre’s message, now poised to reach an expanded audience, has been muted on “This Island” at a time when the resurgence of conservatism and anti-tolerant legislation means that their voices most need to be heard.
“This Island” starts out strong with the poppy “On the Verge” and tracks like the high energy synth slapped “Seconds” where the lyrics are screeched out like a possessed 1980s kabuki demon or the very ESG sounding “Nanny Nanny Boo Boo” (my favorite track) show the band can still dish it out. But there are some misses on the album, more so due to the tracks’ progression. Everything builds well up to the 7th track, the Ric Ocasek produced, “Tell You Now” with a great lyrical dialogue on the political climate of the times and a wonderful guitar break in the middle. This fades into “New Kicks” an artfully constructed song with samples from the United for Peace “The World Says No to War March” in February, 2003 featuring sound bytes from Al Sharpton and Susanne Sarandon. But ironically, the anti-war message of “New Kicks” overshadows “Viz,” the next track, addressing the visibility of butch lesbianism in American culture.
Although I love the fun energy of Le Tigre, the inclusion the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited” cover seems misplaced and the odd reggae rhythms of the backing music are a bit grating. The last two tracks, “Sixteen” and “Punker Plus” don’t have the same energy as the tracks that jump-start the album, but there are enough tracks that are worthy of a listen that I wouldn’t dismiss “This Island” entirely. It just seems a bit too safe to me as a a whole. |