Shonen Knife - Rock Animals (1993) [Japanese Version] RESTORED

Rock Animals, 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?

Like Jonathan Richman, this group has carved out a niche that combines wide-eyed cuteness with unbridled rock & roll. That's good and bad; like Richman, you can rely on Shonen Knife for consistent fun, but also like Richman, you shouldn't expect much variation or artistic growth from album to album. Rock Animals adds a somewhat harder edge to their sound without tempering their child-like innocence. Occasionally they branch out from their stock-in-trade mix of bubblegum and power punk. "Another Day" is an orchestrated piano ballad that recalls girl-group dramas of the 1960s, and "Music Square" is a folkish tune featuring acoustic guitar and harmonica.

~ Richie Unterberger, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. Concrete Animals
02. Little Tree
03. Butterfly Boy
04. Strawberry Cream Puff
05. Tomato Head
06. Another Day
07. Brown Mushrooms
08. Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
09. Catnip Dream
10. Cobra Versus Mongoose
11. Music Square


Produced by Page Porrazzo and Shonen Knife
Mixed by Don Fleming except "Another Day + Music Square" by Akio Tanabe.

• Naoko Yamano - vocals, guitar, harmonica
• Michie Nakatani - vocals, bass, keyboards
• Atsuko Yamano - vocals, drums, percussion

Release Date: September 8, 1993
Format: Original Recording
Label: MCA Victor, Inc.
Catalog No.: MVCD-8