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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Jul 6, 2008 18:17:19 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- 1992 VIRGIN RECORDS JAPAN This was the Knife's big label debut (on Virgin records) and is for all intents and purposes a "best hits" album, only with a difference, all the songs were rerecorded and improved in every way that a big label like Virgin could improve them! This is by far my fave SK CD, and includes my all-time favorite SK song, WATCHIN' GIRL. SK: Naoko Yamano, Atsuko Yamano & Michie Nakatani Playlist:Riding on the Rocket Bear up Bison Twist Barbie Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner (Sea Turtle) Antonio Baka Guy Ah, Singapore Flying Jelly Attack Black Bass Cycling is Fun Watchin' girl I am a Cat Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner (Green tortoise) Devil House Insect Collector Burning Farm Get the Wow Milky Way
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Jul 6, 2008 18:26:23 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review- RIDING THE ROCKET
While not one of my top ten faves, I have a warm spot in my heart for this song, as it was the first SK song i ever heard. The song starts right off with its driving beat and Naoko's then trademark buzzy guitar along with Michie's Fuzz bass, and then, the catchy lyrics begin and you can't help but want to sing along, even if you dont know the words! IKO-OH IKO-OH, EVERYBODY LET'S GO! This song is jumpy and fun, and it has a blue eyed cat as the main protagonist.......truly THE typical SK song...if such a thing exists!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Oct 19, 2008 13:44:08 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review- BEAR UP BISONThe second song on the album is another remake of a Japanese SK hit (AKA Making plans for Bison) You might say this is SKs contribution to ecology and the World Wildlife fund. The song is bouncy and fun, and is sometimes noted for it's pronunciation of the word "extinction" (ex-tinc-tu-tion); it's mesage seems to be that the bison can still thrive, if we just help it along.........even though it's a mishapen beast! Strangely, I think I prefer this song in the original Japanese!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Oct 19, 2008 13:53:37 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review- TWIST BARBIEThis song can either be seen as a tribute to the dolls that Naoko collects , or, if you cut open the layers, you can read this song as a social commentary over the way young Japanese girls see themselves; as opposed to the way they see western women. (Blonde hair, blue eyes.....she is welcomed by boys) The song seems to compare Barbie's western ideal to that of Japanese woman, who is darker tressed and shorter (Stressing Barbie's long legs and the way she dances....her sexual appeal). Whether Naoko wrote the song this way on purpose is only known to her, but, I suspect it wasn't a coincedence. The song itself is punky fun, and wonderfully done; great to sing along with or just listen to Naoko and Michie's guitar riffs...The live version of this on You Tube is probably my fave SK video to watch! Love this song! www.youtube.com/watch?v=u25__HY4XwE
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Oct 26, 2008 13:03:53 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review- Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner (Sea Turtle)Apparently SK's idea of a commercial jingle for a brand of pot scrubbers in Japan (According to one source, it does exist, but, I can't say for sure), anyway, the song is a nice short rock anthem for the best pot scrubbers in the World! Later on the album, there's a countryfied version for Tortoise Brand (Green tortoise)
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Nov 21, 2008 14:09:39 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review- ANTONIO BAKA GUYThis is probably my second least favorite SK song...........let's leave it at that!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Nov 21, 2008 14:13:56 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review- AH, SINGAPOREThis is a charming little ballad about the cleanest city in the World (You can litterally be assessed a HUGE fine for one candy wrapper dropped on the street), thus the line "You can't buy chewing gum in Singapore..." this is true, because people used to get gum all over their shoes by people who would throw it anywhere, the sale of chewing gum was made illegal in the country! (Maybe we should try that here!...I hate reaching under a table and getting old gum on my fingers!) Anyway, it's a cute little song.
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Dec 4, 2008 16:34:10 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review-Flying Jelly Attack
This is one of the most fun songs Shonen Knife ever did, it's theme seems to be a candy food fight! The lyrics of throwing jelly beans and candy drops at each other makes for a fun bouncy song that can't help but make me sing along....with a smile. The band was deffinately at it's best in this period and this, like so many of the songs on this album is one of my favorites. If you're looking for a serious song, on a serious subject, this isn't for you but, if you're looking for a song to make you feel good, this one does it for me!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Dec 22, 2008 23:13:52 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review-Black Bass
This song is a semi-sentimental balad about fishing with a young boy; it could almost be called nostalgic. Personally, I have never been fond of ballads, but, this is a great "Car song" (A song thats long and soothing, makes a car trip move right along!). As far as ballads go, this is a pretty good song; one that might make you think of days long gone when you went fishing with your Dad or Grampa, guaranteed to make you feel good inside.
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Dec 31, 2008 1:08:26 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review- Cycling is FunThis is another great "car song" it's an upbeat kind of summer song, kind of like what the Beach Boys might have done, if they were 3 nutty Japanese girls! (I say nutty with only the utmost affection ) This song is a little slow to sing along with but, if you like something light, this song fits the bill!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Jan 2, 2009 23:04:22 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review-Watchin' girl (Written by Michie, sung by Naoko)
This is the Shonen Knife song that I love the most; from it's driving beat, to the by now perfected harmonies of the 3 originals (Naoko Yamano, Atsuko Yamano & Michie Nakatani); who are singing a kind of appeal to the women of Japan, to become more self-aware (one might even say liberated); there isn't anything about this song that I don't love! Michie's basslines (She wrote the song) and Atsuko's drums are well complemented by some of the best lead guitar that Naoko has ever done....OOO DA OOO DA OOO DA OOO DA OOO DA OOO DA, WATCHIN' GIRL!!! ;D
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Jan 18, 2009 3:35:21 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review- I AM A CAT (Written by Naoko, sung by Atsuko)
This song is a little bit of fantasy , and i can only explain it with a few of the lyrics: [glow=red,2,300]Sometimes I feel like I'm in the Milky Way And I lose myself I don't know who I am I discover whiskers of a cat in a timeless zone And I put them on my face In a moment I become a sweet little cat And I dance on a flying saucer[/glow] Its a charming little song, that I suspect only Naoko REALLY understands, and, even though its a ballad, I really enjoy this one!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Jan 18, 2009 3:38:55 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review- Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner (Green tortoise)
Countrified version of track # 4
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Feb 2, 2009 16:19:01 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review-Devil House Written and sung by Michie Nakatani
This was Shonen Knife's tribute to the Rocky Horror Picture Show...Devil House refers to what is more commonly called a haunted house; and the plot makes reference to almost every haunted house movie ever made. I just love this song ( time warp , time slip<< RHPS reference) it's fun and fast and the harmonies are great; SK was really tight by this time.
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Apr 2, 2009 21:04:08 GMT -5
LET'S KNIFE- Song review- INSECT COLLECTOR
This is a charming little ballad about what is still a fairly popular hobby in Japan, insect collecting (Konchu Saishu in Japanese). It may remind one of simpler times when as a child one would lay in the tall summer grass, observing the grasshoppers one had captured in a glass jar, with holes poked in the top , and grass for the insect to "eat" (Well, what does a 7 year old know about feeding insects?). It is certainly one of the most "musical" SK songs that I know of.
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