Search - Shonen Knife :: Pretty Little Baka Guy

Everybody Uka Boo to Shonen Knife

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 06/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Shonen Knife's 712 (1991) was my introduction to the Osaka power pop trio. The next time I heard a song by them was "Devil House" from Pretty Little Baka Guy, their 1986 album, which coincidentally was released on my birthday of all days! Well, guess that's fate for ya. After a thunder and lightning sound effects, the intro guitar, typical poppified Ramones and Devo sound, kicks in. It's a sound they perfected rhythmically in "My Favourite Town Osaka" on 712. Most of the songs are in Japanese, save "Making Plans For Bison," and "Public Bath," though others have a few English lyrics.



A hard-driving fuzzy guitar gives a nod to their punk roots as "Making Plans For Bison" kicks in. Despite being ungainly, ugly, and being on the way to extinction, the girls sing that he has a right to live. "Bear Up Bison, never say die" sing the trio in the goofy chorus. This song is sung in English. The fuzz guitar reappears in the Japanese-sung "Riding On The Rocket" along with the archetypal pop-punk sound, about the fun of going into outer space, taking along a blue-eyed kitty cat who dances the mambo. For goofy lyrics, try "Uka boo uka boo, let's do the uka boo." The live version here has a garage-like but lively sound.



In 712, SK sang of just staying at home instead of going to work in "Lazybones." Here, they take that theme in the Clash-like dub reggae-pop of "Summertime Boogie," wanting to sleep in bed, play in the pool, or go to the disco. Why work when it's nice and warm? Another song in that same style is the slightly over one minute "Ah Singapore" though the lyrics are bizarre. "Kappa Ex.," a.k.a. Extract of Kappa, is equally bizarre, about how someone takes the titled drinks and becomes a kappa, complete with webbed hands and a plate on one's head. (Note: a kappa is a green Japanese water sprite whose power is found in water in the plate on its head. If one can trick the kappa into bowing, it loses its power as the water leaves the plate.) The live version is also good, sounding like Bleach-era Nirvana.



Another favourite topic in SK songs are food, something in common with Weird Al. "I Wanna Eat Chocobars" is about, well, ... let's see, umm.... Seriously, they sing of eating them twice a day, and liking nougats, nuts, and corn flakes in their chocolate bars. Note: "Daisuki, tabetai" in the refrain means, "I love them, I want to eat them." And "Itsudemo, docodemo" also in the refrain, means "Any time, anywhere." They also sing of going to "Ice Cream City" a fantasy place like "Fruit Loop Dreams" from 712. Bluesy pop, is the best way to describe this.



Public baths are another cultural thing in Japan, and they sing about how they love them set to an upbeat guitar riff reminding me somewhat of a poppified Cream's "I Feel Free."



Heavy ponderous riffs introduce "Antonio Baka Guy", which should be "Antonio Baka Gai" as they sing about a large 53 cm shell that came from Africa, "gai" or "kai" being Japanese for shell, as in seashell.



Where 712 showed SK finally solidifying their sound, Pretty Little Baka Guy was the sign of things to come, the sound in the making, kind of what Uh-Huh was to John Cougar Mellencamp before he exploded with Scarecrow. Those who got 712 should next listen to this one. Not as solid, but still worth it. Review from an ugly tall intelligent guy."