Shonen Knife - Free Time
by Anthony Strutt
published: 8 / 7 / 2011
Label:
Damnably
Format: CD
intro
Excellent fifteenth album from punk-influenced Japanese trio and Kurt Cobain's favourite act, Shonen Knife
'Free Time' is the fifteenth album from the punky three piece Japanese girls that were Kurt Cobain's favourite band. 'Perfect Freedom' is full-on punk fury, like a Japanese Ramones doing the Beatles, big on sound, big on riffs and the perfect racket. These girls like their food and sing about it on 'Rock'n'Roll Cake'. This has more of a Phil Spector girl group sound, and is again wonderful. 'Economic Crisis' has attitude in abundance once its slow start ends, and is like Motorhead in a rush and running late. 'Do You Happen to Know?' is another furious, very fast number, while 'Capybara' has a completely different flow and is a techno-influenced track. 'An Old Stationary Shop' is sung in the enthusiastic style of the Go Gos, while 'Monster Jellyfish' is well paced and another fiery song. 'P.Y.O.' is a chunky sing-a-long track full of fun, and 'Love Song' recalls 'That's Entertainment' by the Jam. 'Star' is reminiscent of mid-period Bangles doing mid-period Beatles. The album is concluded with a faster version of 'Rock 'n' Roll Cake' and ends with a a non techno version of Capybara which recollects Trio's 'Da Da Da' if you are old enough to remember that. An excellent album!
Track Listing:-
1 Perfect Freedom2 Rock'n'roll Cake
3 Economic Crisis
4 Do You Happen To Know
5 Capybara
6 An Old Stationary Shop
7 Monster Jellyfish
8 P.Y.O.
9 Love Song
10 Star
11 Rock'n'Roll Cake (Punk Version)
12 Capybara (Techno Version)
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/ShonenKnifeOfficial/http://www.shonenknife.net/index.html
https://twitter.com/shonenknife
https://twitter.com/SK_Atsuko
https://twitter.com/ShonenKnifeRisa
https://twitter.com/SK_Ritsuko
Label Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/damnablylondon/https://twitter.com/damnably
http://www.damnably.com/
https://instagram.com/damnably/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHMRZSGOEjZMhqSRNrvlaIg
Have a Listen:-
interviews |
|
Interview (2011) |
|
| Jamie Rowland speaks to Naoko Yamano, the guitarist/vocalist and founding member Naoko Yamano with Japanese punks about their thirty years together, and the effect of the Ramones on their work |
live reviews |
|
Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 30/4/2014 |
|
| Nicky Crewe misses most of Shonen Knife's gig at the Ruby Lounge in Manchester due to their late stage arrival, but feels that it was better to have seen some of the Tokyo all girl punk trio's set rather than nothing at all |
| Musician, Leicester, 7/9/2012 |
| Babylon, Ottawa, 11/3/2005 |
photography |
|
Photoscapes (2023) |
|
| Rob Hadley photographs Japanese pop-punk trio Shonen Knife at a gig on their 40th Anniversary Tour at The Hare and Hounds in Birmingham. |
reviews |
|
Adventure (2016) |
|
| Enjoyable and entertaining latest album from Japanese garage rock trio, Shonen Knife |
| Pop Tune (2012) |
| Super Group (2010) |
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