MEN is the latest project from JD Samson, a member of the electronic dance trio Le Tigre. It’s also a dance pop band with overtly political themes in songwriting. It is a natural extension of Le Tigre, who have been on hiatus since releasing their most recent album, This Island, in 2004.

MEN started out as a DJ duo between Samson and Johanna Fateman, who were Le Tigre sans Kathleen Hanna, but that project morphed into a full band, writing their own songs. The band is currently on tour, including a stop on Tuesday, July 14 at Chop Suey, with Team Gina and Your Heart Breaks. It is sure to be a queer-friendly dance party on a Tuesday night.

While making the drive from Minneapolis to Seattle, JD Samson called me to talk about her projects, including MEN, Le Tigre and working on what is sure to be my most-anticipated pop album.

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Last time MEN came through town, they were a DJ duo of JD Samson and Johanna Fateman - basically Le Tigre sans Kathleen Hanna.

Since then, they've expanded and started making their own music. The press release I had gotten says:

MEN is a Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective that focuses on the energy of live performance and radical potential of dance music. Comprised of JD Samson (Le Tigre), Johanna Fateman (Le Tigre), Michael O’Neill (Princess), Ginger Brooks Takahashi (The Ballet) and Emily Roysdon, the group speaks to issues such as wartime economies, sexual compromise, and demanding liberties. Propulsive, literate, and subtly complex, their songs draw upon the history of subversive music, from Talking Heads to Timbaland, to create a breathless, future-minded sound.

Am I the only guy who loves how a handful of arty lesbians are claiming the tag "men"? The other example is the great new album from The Gossip, Music for Men.

MEN are playing at Chop Suey on Tuesday night with Your Heart Breaks and (another one of my favorite duos) Team Gina. ($10 adv/$12 DOS, doors at 8pm, 21+)

In more Le Tigre news, Pitchfork said that the band (including Kathleen Hanna) is working on the next Christina Aguilera album. This is also after it was reported that Ladytron and Goldfrapp are also contributing, making this my most anticipated bubblegum pop record ever.

at Nectar

It’s the best Justin Timberlake song he never made. It should go without saying, but I mean that as a compliment.

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The imaginary staff has been a buzz with excitement about the upcoming Hey Willpower / MEN show next week. So, when we got the opportunity to give away a pair of tickets to the show, we jumped at the chance.

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