Bikini Kill Music Review

Bikini Kill – Revolution Girl Style Now (1991)

Recorded between 1990 and 1991.

According to Wikipedia: This is a demo album by the punk rock band Bikini Kill. It was self-released on cassette in 1991. This 1991 cassette was first released on vinyl, CD, and digital formats in 2015 via the band’s own label, Bikini Kill Records. The reissue includes three previously unreleased tracks: “Ocean Song,” “Just Once,” and “Playground.”

I often have some pretty interesting stories about quite a few bands. As for Bikini Kill, I discovered them very late, but I’d always heard they were very important, even essential. But I was listening more to L7, whom I’m crazy about, and I also knew the excellent Bratmobile.

One day, I decided to buy “First Two Records,” which has 20 songs. I didn’t like it right away… but with every listen, I liked it more and more. Actually, it was mostly because of the poor sound quality that I had a big problem with it.

As for Revolution Girl Style Now, that was a revelation for me when it came to the band! In fact, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve listened to it, and I could still shove it in my ears over and over.

A friend had sung “Suck My Left One” at karaoke, and it was her performance that made me listen to that song over and over, followed by this demo album on repeat.

Here’s something kind of funny: I’ve never listened to the album in order. I’ve either listened to it on shuffle or via playlists created by fans who didn’t put the tracks in the album’s original order. Yet when an album is put together, everything is carefully thought out, and the song order is usually pretty precise. The fact that I have no problem listening to Revolution Girl Style Now in total disarray proves to me that these tracks are excellent and all go well together.

Bikini Kill is at the forefront of the Riot Grrrls, and for good reason! Top-notch alternative punk rock, full of power and essential messages.

Here are the spin-off bands—groups that were formed by or feature members of Bikini Kill: The Julie Ruin, Julie Ruin, Le Tigre, and The Frumpies.

Billy Karren did not participate in the 2019 Bikini Kill reunion and was therefore replaced by Erica Dawn Lyle. He is best known, however, for having been the guitarist in the band, despite his many other projects. He has excellent taste, as he cites The Slits, The Ronettes, Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders), and Wire among his influences.

Kathleen Hanna, Kathi Wilcox, and Tobi Vail are apparently still part of the band to this day! Much to our delight!!!

Bikini Kill – First Two Records (1994)

I found this comment: “As a riot girl, I had to get Bikini Kills, an iconic album”.

In 2021, I also wrote a short comment:

“Really cool!

Posted on June 11, 2021 by BiboZ.

Excellent band, great punk energy, the pinnacle of Riot Grrrl…
The only downside… is the sound!
Even though it’s punk, it still has to be at least somewhat listenable.
It doesn’t have to be all trashy or sloppy! Otherwise, it really doesn’t mean anything anymore.

Bikini Kill is committed, powerful, a trailblazer, full of humor and talent. Better to have this album than nothing at all.”

According to Wikipedia, the CD version of The First Two (originally released on cassette under the title The First Two) is a compilation by the punk rock band Bikini Kill, featuring their self-titled 1992 EP and their half of the 1993 EP Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah, an album they shared with the band Huggy Bear. It was released in 1994 on Kill Rock Stars and is Bikini Kill’s first CD release. The album was reissued by Bikini Kill Records on June 23, 2015, simply as The First Two Records, and featured additional tracks from the expanded reissue of Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah.

A hell of a band that proves girls have been in music for much longer than we think and have nothing to envy men.

What a band! They prove that women have been in the music business for much longer than people realize and are every bit as good as the men.