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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Jul 13, 2008 20:32:30 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN Naoko's tribute to her little sister! Originally released in Japan, 1986 Re-released 2005, Oglio Records SK: Naoko & Atsuko Yamano with Michie Nakatani The cover art for this album is the kana (Japanese script) for "Yama no Attchan"; Naoko's nickname for her younger sister (And then drummer), Atsuko; the back cover art is a caricature of the 3 girls with the song titles all in pastel crayons...very charming, and credited to Naoko and her Dad! (Yes, Shonen Knife was a family project from the start) As all of the songs on this album are in Japanese, I can't comment on the wisdom of the lyrics, I can however say that this album is mainly slower songs; thus, I'm probably not as fond of this CD as some others by the band, but, it has several selling points, nonetheless. The best cut on the album (in my opinion) is the original Jelly Bean Attack, which features a much more prominent bass and fun, more primitive guitar riffs and a slightly different beat than the later translated version, from Let's Knife. Other highlights are the first cut, An Angel Has Come; which features the girls doing Angel-like harmonies for the chorus, Elmer Elevator (Named for a character in a children's book/anime), the slightly reggae sounding Cannibal Papaya and the hyper-cute Chinese Song. (Which is sung in Chinese....I think??)  out of 5 Playlist: AN ANGEL HAS COME CYCLING IS FUN ELMER ELEVATOR BANANA LEAF CHINESE SONG FLYING JELLY ATTACK CANNIBAL PAPAYA DALI'S SUNFLOWER INSECT COLLECTOR BYE BYE FLYING JELLY ATTACK (live) INSECT COLLECTOR (live) (All songs in Japanese....with the possible exception of Chinese song) Cover art 
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on May 6, 2010 2:15:25 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN ~ Song Review
[glow=red,2,300]AN ANGEL HAS COME[/glow]by Michie Nakatani
Since all these songs are in Japanese, I'll just give a quick impression of what I think of each ^_^'
I love the bass and the harmonies on this one , and especially the DADADADADADADADA part. Michie wrote it, so, one would assume she's the one singing, but, in a much deeper voice than you'd expect. (It's deffinately not Naoko)
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on May 6, 2010 2:17:44 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN ~ Song Review
[glow=red,2,300]CYCLING IS FUN[/glow]
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 May 6, 2010 2:19:58 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN ~ Song Review
[glow=red,2,300]ELMER ELEVATOR[/glow]
This isn't a song about an elevator, but rather an anime made from an American children's book, about a boy with a pet dragon.
This song has a bit of a "Creole" beat (Think "Bo-Didley).
Entertaining, but, no masterpiece!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on May 13, 2010 1:34:12 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN ~ Song Review
[glow=red,2,300]BANANA LEAF[/glow]
A strange song about Naoko falling into a hole and a banana leaf appears on her head...Michie's bass is the most noticeable instrument...cute weird song!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on May 13, 2010 1:36:31 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN ~ Song Review
[glow=red,2,300]CHINESE SONG[/glow] by Michie Nakatani
Michie's comment on a trip to China, and how many people there were there! Nice little melody!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on May 13, 2010 1:41:47 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN ~ Song Review
[glow=red,2,300]FLYING JELLY ATTACK[/glow]
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...the Japanese version is a lot more primitive, but, has a fun "buzzy" sound that makes it a pleasure to listen to.
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on May 13, 2010 1:47:34 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN ~ Song Review
[glow=red,2,300]CANNIBAL PAPAYA[/glow] by Michie Nakatani
This little ditty talks of a little cannibal who eats all the Papaya, Pinapples and breadfruit in the village....a cannibal on an all-fruit diet?
The song almost has a reggae beat; I guess to give it that "tropical" feel...one of my fave cuts on the album.
(Michie actually has written more of the songs on this album than Naoko!)
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on May 13, 2010 1:51:40 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN ~ Song Review
[glow=red,2,300]DALI'S SUNFLOWER[/glow]
by Michie Nakatani
It starts out as a bit of a "rap" with a hard beat , then moves seamlessly into a rock and roll beat, then back again. Michie's singing here is perfect in this song about a woman who's just had a divorce and is feeling confusion!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on May 13, 2010 1:53:46 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN ~ Song Review
[glow=red,2,300]INSECT COLLECTOR[/glow]
AKA Konchu Saishu.....In Japan, insect collecting is still a pretty popular hobby; and that's what this charming little song is about.
When I'm in a slow song mood, I enjoy it.
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on May 13, 2010 2:00:57 GMT -5
YAMANO ATTCHAN ~ Song Review [glow=red,2,300]BYE BYE [/glow] by Ichiya Nakamura* A soft little semi-accoustic about taking life easy on a lazy day. Nice song considering that soft songs aren't really my style! *Ichiya Nakamura Ph.D. - BIOGRAPHY. Professor, Keio University Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University <<Is this really the SAME guy??? Or someone else with the same name? (Heck if I know  ) The album ends with 2 Bonus live tracks:
FLYING JELLY ATTACK (live)
INSECT COLLECTOR (live)All in all, a good, but not great album |
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Post by thegl0r on Dec 21, 2013 5:28:55 GMT -5
I really really love this album. You could say there are a few slower songs on it, but Michie's insistent bass keeps driving the album onwards. To me, it feels that its the bass that takes the lead on much of this album with the other instruments and the vocals wrapped around and accentuating the bass lines. The songs are all beautifully crafted and wonderfully arranged with the layers of sounds dancing around each-other and with nothing getting crowded out. You are missing out big-time if you've only ever heard the remastered version on CD - as re-released on Oglio. I seriously recommend that you hunt down a copy of the 8" vinyl released on Zero Records. I know that some of you out there "don't do vinyl", but this is one exception that you really should make and to Hell with the expense! It is worth it. And you get to turn the record over after Chinese Song. All too suddenly Bye Bye finishes and the record is over. The sun is in the sky, the birds are tweeting and all is well with the world. Even at 9 in the morning on a rainy winter's day. The sound of the whole vinyl album is so much better and much more beautiful than that of the CD release, which in my opinion is a mere shadow of the greatness that truly is Yama-no Atchan. One of Shonen Knife's finest. Sorry, not a very objective write up, more a case of me frothing at the mouth and frantically typing stuff because I've just been listening to the vinyl release again. Three times in a row as a special treat. Ah! BTW, Bye Bye is sung in English. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that this was written as a song for children, as a teaching aid(?), but I may be wrong.  yama no attchan insert side 1 yama no attchan insert side 2I had been intending to write something somewhere else, but got sidetracked  |
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