Rock Animals

Shonen Knife

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 25, 1994)
• Original Release Date: January 25, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B000000W4O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,278 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Quavers

2. Concrete Animals

3. Butterfly Boy

4. Little Tree

5. Catnip Dream

6. Tomato Head

7. Another Day

8. Brown Mushrooms

9. Johnny, Johnny, Johnny

10. Cobra Versus Mongoose

11. Music Square

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Shonen Knife is one of those bands that make you an instant devotee or forever leave you totally bewildered. Part of the Japanese trio's appeal lies in its mutated regurgitation of American and British pop culture: The highlight of 1992's Let's Knife, the group's first widely available domestic release, was "Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner's Theme," which appeared in two delightfully screwy versions. But you get the sense that even if Naoko, Michie, and Atsuko were singing in their native language, things would still be pretty weird. Choruses stagger by in 15/8 time, voices blend in uniquely twisted harmonies, and bursts of fuzz guitar suddenly invade innocent pop singalongs. Shonen Knife isn't just from a different country, it's from a different solar system.

Rock Animals, the band's second Virgin release, is mellower than its predecessor, with less Ramones drive and more Beach Boys lilt. In fact, the title could be a nod to Pet Sounds, but no one knows for sure; the Virgin press release paints it as an ecological concept album, but the lyrics to songs such as "Little Tree," "Concrete Animals," and "Cobra Vs. Mongoose" are as inscrutable as ever, revealing no obvious Don Henley crusade. The catchiest and most gonzo tunes are the irresistable "Catnip Dream," which speculates about kitties getting high on catnip, and the '50s-style "Johnny Johnny Johnny," which features the memorable lyric, "Hee Hee Ha Ha Ho Ho/He's the coolest boy." Who could argue with that? --Jim DeRogatis

Product Description

Originally released in 1994, the album from the J-pop trio features Thurston Moore on 'Butterfly'. 11 tracks. August Records. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Japanimals., September 28, 2003

By	H3@+h (VT) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Rock Animals (Audio CD)

Like other reviewers have said, you either become a "knife-head", or you cut them from your collection. I could never do that because I love this group. They're one of those bands that I've listened to for years, and when I mention them, people say "who"? The songs are very catchy, and the Japanese voices/accents on these girls almost demand that you fall for their cuteness. The sound is indie-pop-punk, but the lyrics are all "Dr.Seuss" and lovey dovey. And while some songs rock, others are all soft and happy. It's a cool album to get into, and will go great between your "Ramones" and "Lush" cd's.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars America's and Britain's monopoly of Classic Rock is broken!, August 27, 2001

By	"kriskadh" (Norfolk, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rock Animals (Audio CD)

I think Shonen Knife is like the cats they sing of; you either love them unconditionally or you don't. Rock Animals is my third Shonen Knife CD. Unlike Let's Knife and Brand New Knife, Rock Animals slows down a bit but doesn't lose one ounce of the magic that makes Shonen Knife unique. This time we are treated to several gems such as Little Tree, Another Day, and Music Square. All very lilting, excellent pieces they are teamed up with traditional Shonen Knife tunes like Catnip Dreams, Concrete Animals, and Johnny, Johnny, Johnny. These three wonderful ladies from Osaka again treat us to their unique "take" on the world around us; a little screwy, equally humorous and sad, but always wonderous. I wish I'd have learned of them long ago.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the reviews are right. strange but cool., March 28, 1999

By	L. K. Draga "lkatryn" (FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Rock Animals (Audio CD)

i was pretty bewildered upon first listen to this cd. after all, hadn't i payed good money for it? hadn't i waited months for its release? i'd never heard their stuff before, so i didn't know to expect tbat not only would i be listening to the cd the whole way through another two times in a row, but that i'd start humming along to the at-times bubble-gummy tunes. whatever else i say, i have to give them credit for being able to sing and play, yet would hesitate to reccomend this to anyone not prepared to step outside of pop. for those who've heard this cd, they know what i'm talking about, and for those who haven't i'd say take a chance even though they haven't got any songs up on the site that you can listen to. at best, you'll find a great band, and at worst, you'll discover a great band that's a little different.