Feminist Sweepstakes is the second studio album by the American feminist electroclash band Le Tigre.

The album is the follow-up to the trio's self-titled debut and the first to feature JD Samson as a member of the band. She had previously worked with the band as a roadie and the operator of Benning's slide show during live performances in support of their first record.

Artist/Band Information

Le Tigre is an American electroclash band, formed by Kathleen Hanna (formerly of Bikini Kill) and Johanna Fateman in 1998. It also featured Sadie Benning from 1998 until 2001, and JD Samson for the rest of the group's run. Le Tigre is known for its left-wing sociopolitical lyrics, dealing with issues of feminism and the LGBT community.

History

Initially envisioned as a live back up band for Hanna's solo project Julie Ruin, Le Tigre mixed the politics and feminism of riot grrrl with electronic samples and lo-fi beats. Other members included Johanna Fateman and JD Samson. JD joined Le Tigre as a full member when co-founder Sadie Benning left the band before the Feminist Sweepstakes album was recorded. JD had previously worked with the band as a roadie and the operator of Benning's slide show during live performances in support of their first record. The self-proclaimed "underground electro-feminist performance artists" combined visuals, music and dance in their performances. JD is a gay rights activist, and the excerpts in "New Kicks" are from an actual protest that JD recorded herself. Hanna is a public speaker against sexual abuse.

The song "Hot Topic" on Le Tigre's self-titled debut pays tribute to dozens of female visual artists, musicians, writers, feminists and others who have inspired them. Among those mentioned are: Yoko Ono, Cibo Matto, Aretha Franklin, Vaginal Cream Davis, Yayoi Kusama, Angela Davis, Sleater-Kinney, The Slits, Billy Tipton, Juliana Luecking, Laura Cottingham, James Baldwin, Marlon Riggs, David Wojnarowicz, Justin Bond and Hanna's close friend, Tammy Rae Carland. In a similar fashion the song "FYR" off the album Feminist Sweepstakes is a tribute to the chapter and ideals put forth in Shulamith Firestone's Fifty Years of Ridicule in her 1970 feminist work The Dialectic of Sex. The album contains a sample of an essay written by Mark Rothko in response to a negative review in 1942 where he debuted the style he would become famous for.

The first two recordings by the band were released on the independent label Mr. Lady Records, run by Kaia Wilson of The Butchies and her girlfriend, artist Tammy Rae Carland. Feminist Sweepstakes (2001) came out on Chicks on Speed's record label. The album This Island (2004) was Le Tigre's first on a major label (Universal Records). Ric Ocasek of the Cars produced one track, "Tell You Now." Even after signing with Universal, Le Tigre continued to work with independent labels. In 2005 they released This Island Remixes with Chicks on Speed.

In the second half of 2006, the band decided to take an extended break starting early 2007.

Since then Kathleen has participated in The Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls and taught an art class at New York University. JD Samson toured as keyboard player with Peaches and made many DJ appearances, while Johanna Fateman has kept busy with a hairdressing salon in NYC's Greenwich Village. In 2008 JD and Johanna formed a new project, Men, to do a DJ tour and record. After doing some remix work, Fateman took time off to have a baby, and Samson recruited the members of her side band Hirsute to perform live under that name. With input from Fateman and Emily Roysdon an album has been recorded but is, as yet, unreleased. The band has toured Europe and is currently touring North America.

In June 2009, it was announced that Le Tigre were back in the studio working with Christina Aguilera on her fourth studio album Bionic. The track "My Girls" features Peaches

Notable appearances

Le Tigre collaborated with Chicks on Speed on the song "Wordy Rappinghood" from their album 99 Cents in 2003 along with other female musicians such as Miss Kittin, Kevin Blechdom, Adult.'s Nicola Kuperus, and Tina Weymouth of the Tom Tom Club. "Wordy Rappinghood" became a moderate dance hit in Europe, peaking at number five on the Belgian Dance Chart, and at number sixty-six on the UK Singles Chart.

In 2006, Le Tigre contributed to Yoko Ono's Yes, I'm A Witch album by remixing "Sisters O Sisters".

Le Tigre licensed two of their songs for use in advertisements by Canadian telephone provider Telus and Australian jewellery chain Goldmark. A sample from "Deceptacon" plays in the background of a 2006 television commercial for Nivea cosmetics. The song is featured in the 2006 Norwegian film Reprise during its comical party scene. Le Tigre's "TKO" is featured in the 2006 movie Accepted, as well as on FOX's Teen Drama The OC in Season 2, and The CW's Teen Drama One Tree Hill in Season 3.

The Boston Red Sox radio broadcast often uses a sample of "Deceptacon", the first song on Le Tigre's debut album, as filler when returning from commercial break. The song was also featured in the Girl Skateboard Company's film Yeah Right! (playing during Rick McCrank's skateboarding segment), the freestyle ski film Teddybear Crisis, and Robot Food's Snowboard film Afterbang, thus elevating it to cult status among skateboarders, freestyle skiers, snowboarders, and the like.

Many of their songs feature prominently in the 2007 film Itty Bitty Titty Committee.

Their song "Let's Run" was featured in the 2002 film "Better Luck Tomorrow".

Discography

Albums

*Le Tigre (1999) Mr. Lady

*Feminist Sweepstakes (2001) Mr. Lady

*This Island (2004) Universal

EPs and singles

*Hot Topic (1999)

*From the Desk of Mr. Lady EP (2001)

*Remix (2003)

*Standing In The Way Of Control 12" split EP with The Gossip on Kill Rock Stars

*This Island Remixes Volume 1 EP, Chicks On Speed Records

*This Island Remixes Volume 2EP, Chicks On Speed Records

Notes