Customer Reviews

Heavy Songs

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a really solid album. Very tight sounding with great songs. Like a more poppy Ramones, with a but of spice thrown in. This band has gotten better over the years as players and writers. Forget their cult status, this is just a plain old really great rock/pop album.

Although it's called 'Heavy Songs' the songs on this album are all great fun and positive. The band sond is great form with lots of tight playing and catchy melodies as you would expect from Shonen Knife. The songs are so infectious it is almost beyond belief. My personal favourite on here is 'Golden Years Of Rock & Roll' which is a wonderful touching and uncynical tale which tells of the joy of being a rock music fan. Other highlights are the all out disco of 'A Boogie Monster' and the alternating vocals on 'Whatever'. I'm hooked on this album!

Shonen Knife has such a long history and such a wide range of material that each album is fun discovery. In spite of its snappy melodies and catchy guitars, Heavy Songs rates just behind Brand New Knife, Rock Animals, and Happy Hour - which by their standards make this a breezy, fun record full of humor and fun.

All the songs on the A-side are great, and the flip is solid if no revelation. But for most, this record definitely passes the test, and it unfailingly puts a grin on your face. Even the "heaviest" song here - "Heavy Song" - is a slow but wonderfully amusing story of Atsuko's attempts at dieting. Of course, SK fans will find this further evidence that they've rebounded from Michie's departure and their only truly disappointing CD, "Strawberry Sounds." Shonen Knife are a consistent and appealing band with an honesty that can't be manufactured.

Heavy Songs is the second full length CD without Michie Nakatani and it appears the Yamano sisters have finally recovered. While I miss Michie's song writing and singing, Shonen Knife seems to have moved on nicely after the stutter step that was Strawberry Sound. Shonen Knifes funky sound (think punk, j-pop, 60's girl bands) keeps progressing and keeping me entertained, which might explain why this album has had good circulation in my cd players since I bought it.

Ah, Japan. thank you, thank you, for this awesome band. you've never seen [seen? more like heard] anything like it! ah, i melt every time i hear them. after the first time you hear them, you'll be hooked. this is the musical equal of candy. all i can say is, yum