This Island

Insound Staff Pick - 2008! New York City's Le Tigre's collaboration is a deliriously addictive, hybrid sound the band calls "feminist punk electronic music." It's a mix of drum-machine samples, synth hooks, buzzing guitar loops, gang vocals, and foolproof bass-lines. Le Tigre's roots go all the way back to a Bikini Kill show in Portland, Oregon: Johanna, in the audience, was impressed and intrigued, and approached Kathleen to give her a copy of her feminist art zine, Snarla. The two became fast friends, and when Kathleen moved to New York soon after producing her first solo venture, Julie Ruin, she asked to Johanna to help her produce it for the stage. The two ended up writing new songs altogether, along with their friend video-maker Sadie Benning. Shortly after the release of Le Tigre's self-titled debut, Sadie left the band to pursue her art career, and JD Samson, formerly a technician/roadie with the band, became a full-fledged member of Le Tigre. Interview said of their third album, "This Island is that rare thing: a party record that ventures from driving political rockers to melodic post-punk dance anthems."