[3] The three of them originally planned to come up with a live format for Hanna's songs as Julie Ruin, but they transitioned into making music.

Fateman explained that they chose equipment with which they were unfamiliar to show "girl-punk scorn for that particular strain of male expertise associated with electronic music.

"[5] Le Tigre produced the album with Chris Stamey of the dB's, who helped the band rearrange songs through digital editing.

[4] When Benning was unable to tour in support of the album, the band removed them from its lineup and added JD Samson.

"[3] "My My Metrocard" criticizes New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani,[11] and "Hot Topic" praises progressive activists.

[8] Le Tigre's vocals often carry a bored or soft-spoken tone, punctuated by more energetic bursts.

[14] The song breaks down into a shouting match that labels Cassavetes with positive terms such as "genius" and "messiah" as well as negative ones such as "misogynist" and "alcoholic".

[12][1] It uses a call-and-response pattern to condemn then-New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose policies against quality-of-life crimes the band opposed.

"[1] Pitchfork called the album's songwriting "less didactic than Bikini Kill's ... geared for the repeated listens these well-crafted pop songs beg for.

[34] PopMatters described Le Tigre as "a record in which bristling punk-pop tunes target listeners with confrontational, thought-provoking messages.

"[35] Select referred to the album as "12 sparky pop nuggets" and "a righteous gem and one worthy of attention of even the most demanding devotee of big shiny production.