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Shonen Knife: Pretty Little Baka Guy & Live in Japan (Rockville)

Chuck Eddy, Spin, June 1991

WHAT REALLY puts the pop-rockettes in Japan's legendary Shonen Knife light-years ahead of such inconsequential Western frauds as "Lush" (how Shonen Knife would pronounce Rush) and Teenage Fanny Plug (undieland's answer to Crowded House), or whoever, is the eyes-awake attitude Knife has towards rhythms and voices. These gals realize such things exist. So they don't stay fenced in by their ancestors' mistakes, and though they play rock-band instruments, they think disco. Where even temporarily defensible twerps like the Pooh Sticks settle for tiptoeing through your briar patch, Shonen Knife wants to fill up your world. The band's singing ain't no jokey, Joe. And lately they've been listening to hip hop and go-go, so I fully expect their next album to give L'Trimm a run fo' the rap-queen crown.

Total word count of piece: 327

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