What about this new album then?
‘Super Group’ is the 14th album from Shonen Knife,
released in the UK on DAMNABLY. The CD features
exclusive artwork and bonus live tracks recorded from
their 2009 Brixton Windmill show (their first UK show
in 16 years).
“When I finally got to see them live, I was
transformed into a hysterical nine-year-old
girl at a Beatles concert.” Kurt Cobain
Who are Shonen Knife?
The super influential all-female Japanese pop-punk
band originally formed in Osaka in 1981. They
captured the hearts of seminal 90’s alt. rock bands,
counting the likes of Thurston Moore and Kurt Cobain
as avid fans, and perhaps best expressed when over
twenty different bands including L7, Babes In Toyland,
Redd Kross, and White Flag came together to record
renditions of their favourite Shonen Knife songs for
a tribute album “Every Band Has A Shonen Knife Who
Loves Them”. They went on to tour the world with
Nirvana (opening on the Nevermind tour), The Breeders,
Sonic Youth, BMX Bandits, and as part of travelling
alternative rock festival Lollapolooza. They’ve
recorded sessions for John Peel, appeared on MTV’s
Beavis and Butthead, 120 minutes, the Conan O’Brian
show and wrote ‘Buttercup (I’m a Supergirl)’ for the
hugely popular cartoon ‘The Powerpuff Girls’.
The band will be in the UK as part of the line up for
All Tomorrow’s Parties curated by Matt Groening in
May, as well as a UK/Europe Tour.
What does it sound like?
The Ramones-loving, food obsessed trio create
infectious, kooky songs on a variety of offbeat
topics. From the inevitable ego clashes in a ‘Super
Group’, the misnomer of immortality (‘Pyramid Power’)
to the joys of burning meat with friends (‘BBQ
Party’). From sugary-pop to uber-heavy rock that
sounds like a Motorhead in Wonka Land. Super Group is
full of youthful exuberance, yet delves into the
mysteries of life from deer parks to the nature of
stardom. It’s deep, it’s light, it’s super-mental
pop-punk ROCK. Totally original and outrageously
loveable.
What do you need to know about this record?
After original member Atsuko retired from the band,
‘Super Group’ marks the return of Shonen Knife to a
trio, with bassist Ritsuko Taneda joining as an
official member. The concept of the album is to "go
back to the starting point of ROCK” and Naoko’s
recent diet of 70’S UK heavy metal and US punk. The
result is hyper catchy, cool songs that Jonathan
Richman and Black Sabbath would not be ashamed of.
The last song is a cover of Wings’ ‘Jet’. Pure fandom,
pure fundom in a way that only Shonen Knife can do.
Track Listing:
01. Super Group
02. Slug
03. Muddy Bubbles Hell
04. Deer Biscuits
05. BBQ Party
06. Pyramid Power
07. Time Warp
08. Na Na Na
09. Your Guitar
10. Jet
11. Lazy Bone (Bonus live track)
12. Muddy Bubbles Hell (Bonus live track)
13. Riding On The Rocket (Bonus live track)
Recent Album Press
BBC6Music (Gideon Coe): “the most arresting record I’ve
heard this week”
Gaesteliste(DE): “summery power-pop and punk”
Subba-cultcha: “brilliantly bonkers”
Is This Music?: “if you are a fan of all girl, quirky,
power punk trios with crazy lyrics then this is the band for
you!”
LondonPaper: “Part Shangri-La’s, part Ramones, you can’t
resist the charm of lyrics ... so give in, and don’t.”
Organ: “sounding better than ever”
The Music Fix: “sherbert-coated
