First Two Records

Riot grrrl group Bikini Kill started life working on a feminist fanzine of the same name in Olympia Washington in the late 80’s. Founding members Kathleen Hanna (currently of Le Tigre), Tobi Vail, and Kathi Wilcox, recruited Billy Karren (formerly of the GO team) aka Billy Boredom on guitar to form a band to further progress their feminist cause.

Hanna, who was formerly a stripper, wrote most of the girls lyrics and projected a female centred ethos at their show encouraging girls to the front and handing out lyrics to shout along to. There live show were renowned for their fiery performance, and women where actively encourage to take the stage and discuss female issues.

This record consists of their first EP Bikini Kill (produced by Fugazi’s Ian McKaye) and the foursome’s half of the Yeah Yeah Yeah joint venture with UK’s Huggy Bear. Stand out track here include ‘Suck my Left One’, one of the most shockingly beautiful songs about incest one will ever her in the post punk era. Its rockabilly beat with grunting vocals combining with some soaring lyrics are both funny and provocative.

Rebel Girl is another track that deserves close attention; it has become an anthem to many in the riot girl scene, and holds it place as being a great rock anthem in its own right. The 11 other songs on this record invariable produce some mediocre songs trash noise ‘This Is Not A Test’ being an example, but this album combined with follow up album Pussy Whipped help paved the way for many a women in today’s scene.