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| Shonen Knife - Free Time |
| This is ridiculous. Ridiculous in a good way, of course. Ridiculous in the sense that Shonen Knife, a band that exemplifies everything fragile, innocent, and in-the-moment joyous, has nonetheless proven durable enough to be approaching its 30th anniversary. Ridiculous in the sense that main Knife Naoko Yamano doesn't seem to be much older than 30 herself. Ridiculous in the sense that the band has managed to maintain their pure, uncynical aesthetic over sixteen albums with nary a stumble. And ridiculous in the sense that Free Time, the band's most recent release, is, after all these years, genuinely one of their best. Shonen Knife has been nothing if consistent, a trait that has prevented them from making an out and out bad album, but which has sometimes resulted a workmanlike feel to their output: oh look, another Shonen Knife album. Last year's Super Group was a good, solid entry in the band's canon, but Free Time finds the trio invigorated, sharp, and most notably toughening up, adding often substantial touches of snarl and volume to their trademark smile pop. Case in point: the Motorhead rumble of "Economic Crisis." Heavier and noisier than the band's ever been, even Yamano's trademark sing-while-you're-smiling vocals have more menace as she struggles to shout over the din. There's also "Do You Happen To Know," a second cousin of The Buzzcock's "What Do You Know" that actually betters the other song's sense of dizzy concern, as Yamano's typically atypical subject matter (losing a guitar at customs) is given a sense of genuine urgency, in feel if not lyrically. Even when the cute takes over, as it always must, there's a renewed sense of strength and momentum. "Capybara" is business as usual, but with extra bite, and "P.Y.O. (Pick Your Own)" is a bright country bounce about, you guessed it, picking your own fruit at the farm. The subject is standard Shonen Knife, but the band's attack elevates the track above it's modified "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" tune, as Yamano delivers the kind of chorus only she (or maybe Jonathan Richman) could get away with: Cranberry, Strawberry, Blueberry, Blackberry Gooseberry, Coffee Berry, Raspberry Chuck Berry The musical touchstones for Shonen Knife…The Ramones, Redd Kross, etc., are legion, but for Free Time, the closest comparison would be classic Buzzcocks: more than once, The Knife (heh) hit the same euphoric rush and crunch that typified the Manchester legend's best albums. Lyrics aside, "Monster Jellyfish" could fit right in to the 'cocks' Love Bites, with it's Diggle-esque guitar and Yamano's half innocent, half warning vocal delivery bearing more than a passing resemblance to Pete Shelly's naive but angry sound. That said, nobody else could make a song called "Rock 'n' Roll Cake" sound so wistfully nostalgic, and the C86 joy of "Love Song" is genuinely affecting, with its swaying, gently catchy chorus and bittersweet longing. In fact, "Love Song" isn't the kind of thing that jumps out on the first listen, but it may be Free Time's best track, with subtle hints of teenage angst and embarrassment couched in a warm, inviting tune. Free Time isn't exactly Shonen Knife's Metal Machine Music, but it does show a heightened sonic power and willingness to turn up the amps. Yamano has been singing about rock 'n' roll in one form or another for three decades, and with Free Time, her band has captured a stronger dose of it than is has for a long time. |