Le Tigre

Though it's not really fair to the other members of her band, Le Tigre are Kathleen Hanna's (Bikini Kill, Julie Ruin, Suture, Fakes) outfit: her fingerprints are all over it. A continuation of the direction Hanna was following with Julie Ruin, Le Tigre's songs make a bold move toward quirky, DJ-fueled new wave. Guitars buzz like an angry mob of bees, pulsing in time with droning rhythms set by simple, stark drumbeats and plopping bass. Hanna's vocals dance to the music, sometimes unleashing their trademark snottiness, and toning things down to standard (yet still strong), early '80s pop at others. Always one to move in new directions, Hanna and company push into uncharted territory with Le Tigre, bringing farfisas, samples, DJs, beats, and quirky timing to their garage-friendly, digitally throbbing new wave.