Recently chosen by Matt Groening to play at his All Tomorrows Parties event, Japanese pop punk legends Shonen Knife have finally released their 2009 album ‘Super Group’ in the UK and it is pretty much what you would expect from this offbeat all girl trio much loved by John Peel and Kurt Cobain. Described on the press release as “Motorhead in Wonka land” with the concept of the album “to go back to the starting point of rock” nowhere is this more apparent than on ‘Muddy Bubbles Hell’ with a riff taken right out of Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’.
It is all a little crazy especially on the track ‘Deer Biscuits’ which makes no sense at all and although the 70’s rock influence is obvious, so is the Ramones bubblegum punk which set them off in the first place back in 1981.
Add in a ridiculous cover of Wings ‘Jet’ complete with amusing yet endearing pronunciation and you have a baffling yet somehow enjoyable album. It is not groundbreaking and I do wonder if it differs greatly to the 13 albums which have gone before it, but it does have a certain charm and if you are a fan of all girl, quirky, power punk trios with crazy lyrics then this is the band for you!
