Length 43:21 Release date 19 October 2004 Producers Nick Sansano, Ric Ocasek | Artist Le Tigre Label Motown/Universal Records | |
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Released October 19, 2004 (2004-10-19) This Island
(2004) Morning Becomes Eclectic (KCRW Live)
(2005) Genres Punk rock, Riot grrrl, Electroclash, Dance-punk Similar Feminist Sweepstakes, Le Tigre, Le Tigre Live!, Remix, Run Fast | ||
Le tigre after dark
This Island is the third album by American dance-punk band Le Tigre. It was released by Universal Records on October 19, 2004. The album was the band's major label debut and reached number 130 on the Billboard 200.
Contents
Le tigre on the verge
Critical reception
This Island received generally favorable reviews from music crtics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 66, based on 28 reviews.
Katie Zerwas of PopMatters gave the band high praise for utilizing its new-found mainstream backing to craft dance-rock material that's both entertaining and mindful of their stance on gender politics, concluding with, "Smart and sexy, political and provocative, Le Tigre is the best and brightest of feminist rock." Rob Theakston of AllMusic also applauded the band for putting a commercial sheen over their usual new wave formula while still retaining their ability to deliver biting commentary, concluding that "Of all the groups Universal could have chosen from this tired, depressing movement, they certainly chose the most honest and promising of the bunch and one whose full potential is just now starting to flourish." Pat Blashill of Rolling Stone praised the upbeat production and confident lyricism for voicing the band's social problems, saying that "If Clear Channel didn't have the airwaves on lockdown, This Island would turn the thirteen-year-old girls of this nation into singing, stomping, rioting mobs demanding r-e-s-p-e-c-t."
Alex Petridis of The Guardian was mixed about the album, saying that the production captures the band's live shows and political message but was put off by the vocal delivery, concluding that "money cannot change vocalist Kathleen Hanna's tendency to sound snotty rather than angry, which frequently leaves you feeling like you're being harangued by Buffy the Vampire Slayer's right-on classmate." Nick Sylvester of Pitchfork Media criticized the album for taking less risks with the band's attempt at commercializing its genre-hopping political tracks to the mainstream masses, concluding that it "ends up being merely a squandered opportunity, which sadly sums up This Island as well." Derek Miller of Stylus Magazine felt the album toned down the band's penchant for delivering upbeat socio-political tracks that comes across more slick but soulless in its social message, saying that, "This Island is expertly produced at times, with a crisp, micro-edged flaunt that belies their gauche political discourse."
Track listing
All tracks written by Kathleen Hanna, Johanna Fateman and JD Samson, except where noted.
Songs
1On the Verge3:31
2Seconds1:45
3Don't Drink Poison2:49