Lipstick and the Ramones
By: Diana Brang
When you think hot Japanese girls and punk rock music, you think Shonen Knife.
Over the last three decades these girls have received worldwide notoriety and have even been favorites of the late great Kurt Cobain and Sonic Youth. Shonen Knife has had many influences over the years to shape their sound and is celebrating their 30 years in the music scene by paying homage to one of their early influences, the legendary Ramones.
This all girl Japanese pop punk band was founded in Osaka, Japan back in 1981 which is why their latest release in simply titled “Osaka Ramones.” (It is also the name of the girls side project) It consists of 13 tracks covering some all-time Ramones favorites like “Blitzkrieg Bop” and “Rock in Roll High School” to some lesser known B-sides such as “She’s the One” and “We Want the Airwaves’.
For all you die hard Ramones fans this is a straight up tribute album. They did not touch the lyrics or rearrange the musical side of the tracts. This is a note for note rendition; they did not add any personal touches or try to update the songs in any way. They even kept all the masculine pronouns as they were in the original tracks.
Just prior to popping this album in I wasn’t sure what to expect. Shonen Knife over the years has built their fan base and reputation on singing sweet polite songs with cutsie lyrics about sugary treats and fuzzy animals. In contrast the Ramones were gritty, anti-authority, leather jacket wearing, don’t give a damn bunch of guys. So here lies the irony- it works in this album. Naoko Yamano is full of high energy just like Joey Ramone, and even though she is as cute as a button she brings her peppy good girl sound and delivers a new life into these classic songs. In fact Shonen Knife revived some of the lesser known and obscure tracks like “Scatter Gun.”
All in all Osaka Ramones is a fun, high energy album that is sure to put a smile on your face. It was co-produced by Robby Takac (the bassist from the Goo Goo Dolls) and is out now in stores. Congratulations to Shonen Knife for 30 years in the music scene. “Hey ho lets go.”
www.myspace.com/shonenknife
