Rating: NNN
In the wake of indie Mr. Lady’s pseudo-dissolution, and with two dope LPs and an EP of preaching to the converted under their belts, feminist dance party pioneers Le Tigre take their message to the mainstream. Their major-label debut is more polished, distilling the sonic components – delightfully trashy 80s electro-pop, Riot punk and gender-bent dildo rock – into slicker, tastier nuggets. Kathleen Hanna’s inimitable shoutiness is balanced by JD and Johanna’s vocal turns. Despite the shiny make-over, and an unfortunate dollop of meta-lyrics about sharks in suits and asinine interviewers, there’s some killer stuff here. The mournful Ric Ocasek-produced slow-burner Tell You Now is sweetly affecting, protest-sampling New Kicks is surprisingly catchy, and TKO and Nanny Nanny Boo Boo are surefire club hits.
Le Tigre take over the Guvernment Monday (October 25).
