Rating: **** (4 out of 4)

Availability:Widely Available

Any time spent with Osaka, Japan's trio of happy punkettes is bound to turn into a happy-fun party, and Shonen Knife's Happy Hour is no exception to the rule. The freewheeling trinity of punk music that is also fun returns with a little of half an hour's worth of songs, all of which are good fun.

This time around, Shonen Knife concentrates on the joys of life and the silliness that can rise to the top of an unfettered mind. How else can one explain following a song called "Sushi Bar" with one about waking up with "Fish Eyes"?

Songs like "Cookie Day," "Hot Chocolate," and "Jackalope" may not reveal deep truths about the human soul, but they are great fun. Even at their strangest, you get a feeling that Shonen Knife is still laughing, as with the acoustic ballad "Dolly" ("Sheep in the sky, like a butterfly...."). Of course, the fun lyrics would be lost without a bit of skillful guitar playing, ranging from the light, tripping sounds of "Cookie Day" to the heavy grunge chops of "His Pet." Shonen Knife is both skillful and irresistibly fun.

As an added bonus, Happy Hour includes one song not written originally in Japanese, a cover of the Monkees' classic "Daydream Believer," complete with high-octane punk guitar licks. Share and enjoy.

The opinions expressed in the above reviews are those of Glen Williams and may not represent the views of slac.com or any of its members. Compliments, complaints, and comments should be addressed to gandalf@tricon.net

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