Written
February 24, 2023

Shortly after being introduced to Bikini Kill, I discovered the front woman Kathleen Hanna was a part of a few other projects, including a peculiar trio named Le Tigre. The 1999 LP Le Tigre is by far the most memorable and iconic work of the band’s discography, best known by the opening track “Deceptacon”, which went semi-viral on social media decades after its release. Although not my favorite out of the whole album, “Deceptacon” has left an undeniable mark on my music taste (specifically my love for the drum machine and simple guitar sound). Kathleen’s voice is as powerful as ever and especially frantic throughout this track. She shouts at her audience, exhausted and fed up by a character I can infer is your typical stuck-up-dude-in-a-band, clearly ignorant of her message and experiences. She mocks them, asking “Wanna disco? Wanna see me disco? Let me hear you depoliticize my rhyme”.

The album takes a quick turn towards a sound that I can’t help but think of as part of a marching band’s routine with “Hot Topic”, a song that lists off different female figures including (my favorite) Cibo Matto and Angela Davis, as well as their fellow riot grrl pioneers Sleater-Kinney. Although the song is pretty static for a 3 min 45 second track, the message and feeling of unity expressed keeps it relevant and one of the more popular songs off the album. 

“The The Empty” is another track that feels excitedly hungry, in that Hanna sings to another partner (but seemingly to all of us) and wonders “when we’re gonna feel something real”. She talks about the dystopian side of the current world, specifically aspects like media and fame. “I went to your concert and I didn’t see anything, I sat through your movie but I didn’t see anything” “Oh, baby, why won’t you talk to me? Oh, baby, you just want me empty!” Kathleen’s desperate vocals that eventually turn into screams are paired nicely with a reliable and fast paced drum machine, which occasionally pauses to let Kathleen speak directly to her partner. I remember seeing in an interview Hanna saying how she wanted to move away from the repetitive power chords of punk music, and although this song includes a simple three chord rhythm, I find it to be a perfect example of taking that sound and placing it in a completely new setting.

Lastly, I’d like to touch on my favorite track off this self titled album, “Eau D’bedroom Dancing”. Kathleen dealt with an immense amount of hate throughout her career in Bikini Kill, and almost all of her discography up until this point had been loud and angry. Because of this, seeing her peel back that layer and reveal the sensitive and soft center that exists in all of us was heartwarming to see. She sings about retreating into her bedroom, making me think of a longing for simpleness, in an almost childlike way. “I’m in the sky when I’m on the floor, The world’s a mess and you’re my only cure”.

“Eau D’bedroom Dancing” is the love song for people who want to dance in their bedroom until the worries of adulthood and adolescence melt away. It’s been the soundtrack wished for in every love, and for that this song has stuck with me since the time I discovered it.Le Tigre by Le Tigre is as diverse as it is proficient in reflecting the band’s signature sound and messages, and will forever be a staple of feminist dance punk and 2000’s indie music.

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