CD/MUSIC REVIEWS ~ HEAVY SONGS

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

HEAVY SONGS
Just the two of us....life after Michie
2003 Confidential Records (by license from Warner Japan)
SK: Naoko & Atsuko Yamano (With support drummer Mana Nishiura*)

After Michie left the band in 1999, Shonen Knife seemed to go into a bit of a slump as their next 2 albums Candy Rock and Strawberry Sound were poor sellers (Neither album has ever found a North American distributor), however, Heavy Songs (Named after the 5th track on this CD about Naoko's frantic attempts at dieting) is a return to the SK sound we all know and love. My favorite tracks are the first two, the punky Map Master and AAA, however, the album doesn't stop there; Golden Years of Rock'n'Roll is a fun romp into Naoko's love for the heroes of Rock and her disillusion over how they've all changed...until the show begins. Rubber Band is Pure SK, fun, bouncy and, you likely have no idea WHAT they are really trying to say! Furthermore, the gals tackle the 70s with the disco parody A Boogie Monster and Naoko complains about a bad haircut! The album is rounded out with some less memorable songs, but, An Elephant insect and Pigmy Jerboa are AS SK as it gets! All in all, Michie's absence is felt, but, not as much as it was in Strawberry Sound.
(of 5)

Playlist:

MAP MASTER
A.A.A
GOLDEN YEARS OF ROCK'n'ROLL
RUBBER BAND
HEAVY SONG
A BOOGIE MONSTER
MUSHROOM HAIRCUT
WHATEVER**
PIGMY JERBOA
AN ELEPHANT INSECT
COMPUTER LANGUAGE
MANGO JUICE
All songs in English

*Mana (China) Nishiura left SK later that year, and was killed in a van rollover, in Nov 2005

**Written by Atsuko, all others by Naoko

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]MAP MASTER[/glow]

Map master could almost be thought of as a full return to SK's roots. After the poorly-received (2) previous post-Michie albums, it begins Heavy Songs on a note of greatness, that is pretty much spread throughout the album. It tells of Naoko's poor sense of direction and she makes fun of herself; in other words, CLASSIC SK! What can I say but, perfect!!!! ;D

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]A.A.A[/glow](AKA ah ah ah )

My fave cut on the album, it begins, slowly then speeds up only to slow down again at the chorus (Then alternates), this is Naoko at her best. Amazingly, despite the absence of Michie, the 2 Yamano sisters manage to harmonise so well in the chorus that you'd swear all 3 girls were there!
Also, considering she had spent almost 20 years on drums, Atsuko was already becoming a fairly good bassist by this album, only her 3rd on bass! (Her style is more traditional than Michie's)
All in all, AAA is pure classic SK and as great as any of Naoko's older songs!

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]GOLDEN YEARS OF ROCK'n'ROLL[/glow]

Another of Naoko's "Story songs"; this time about her little-girl giddiness over the chance to hear her favorite rockers of old at a concert; only to find that things had changed over the years....except the music!
The Yamano sisters really seem to be enjoying themselves here!
And Atsuko's bass lines on this one are great!

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]RUBBER BAND[/glow]

While the lead guitar here is pure SK, the lack of a 3rd singer really is obvious on this one, so the song sounds a bit "empty" and I didn't care for it at the beginning, but, It has grown on me since the first time I heard it... I really like it!

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]HEAVY SONG[/glow]

The CD's title song, it may be the slowest "food song" the band has ever done; but, that doesn't mean it's bad, in fact, it's one of the best cuts on the album. Somehow, you can feel how worried Naoko was becoming about her weight....mind you, I think she looks amazing these days!

OHOH!!!

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]A BOOGIE MONSTER[/glow]

Probably the least appealing cut on the album....unless you're really into disco.....particularly discos full of aliens! (Nuff said)...Of course, if you love this song, feel free to say so!

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]MUSHROOM HAIRCUT[/glow]

A fun song about Naoko's disastrous attempt to get a "modern" MUSHROOM HAIRCUT; only to get a 60s version....I guess what you see is what she got !!! This is classic SK...at the end, she says that she will keep her hair long from now on....and , if you've seen her lately, her hair is indeed long! (And it really suits her!)

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]WHATEVER[/glow]

Nicely played organ music invites you into this wonderful song written by Atsuko (Although, I believe it's Naoko singing) about the pleasures of everyday life. The song features great alternating tempos and wa-wa guitar in the verses.

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]PIGMY JERBOA[/glow]

Kind of a return to the very early SK of strange songs and simple melodies (Think of songs like Elephant Pao Pao, for instance); and, like those older songs, this one is totally charming! The words are a little silly but, it's SK, they do it best!

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]AN ELEPHANT INSECT[/glow] (with Canadian singer Ron Sexsmith*)

Another fun song in the traditional SK mode of kitties , bugs and elephants! Ron Sexsmith sings a duo with Naoko on this one!

*Ron Sexsmith is from the next town north of me! (We're practically neighbours )

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]COMPUTER LANGUAGE[/glow]

This is another of Naoko's "experimental" songs (Like "Television commercial song"), only, this one works! I love the Japanese intro (Although, the meat of the song is in English), and while I'm not terribly fond of the opening "heavy Metal" guitar riffs, the song soon evolves into pure punk and goes at 1000 miles an hour (Naoko's voice is in top form here!) then the song litterally changes into computer language (0101010101010101!)< Probably my favorite part of the song...I suspect the bassist for this one is her husband Roman Yumeno* who did some of the more elaborate bass tracks on the CD (After all, Atsuko was just a beginner on bass at the time)

*New act ....Yamano & Yumeno! hehe (Roman Yumeno is actually a stage name, his real name is Atsushi Shibata)

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

Heavy songs song review-
[glow=red,2,300]MANGO JUICE[/glow]

A "food song" (or is that drink song?) about Mango juice bought at an Indian restaurant. the song is played with traditional Indian sitar airs (Although, likely played on an electric guitar), strangely, the percussion is played on an African instrument known as an Udu ( A clay pot used as a kind of drum)!
The song is soothing and calming....sort of makes you want to swim in a jungle pond! hehe A nice finish to a GREAT album

UDU:

[mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman]

REST IN PEACE, MANA

As stated earlier, not long after working on this album, drummer Mana Nishiura quit Shonen Knife after being offered the job of permanent drummer for a band called DMBQ; during a tour of the band in late 2005, Mana was killed in a traffic accident; this is my little Memorial to her:



Mana (left) with the Yamano sisters