Happy Hour
Back with more of the quirk pop familiar to their fans, Shonen Knife's new album is a familiar blend of regurgitated Ramones riffs, assorted sunny jangles and three-part voices saying silly things in squeaky Japanese accents. There are wrinkles here that the band has been adding over their last several albums, like the early '80s' new wave that opens the album ("Shonen Knife Planet"), and the rare appearance of a song that actually goes past four minutes ("His Pet"). The loopiness remains intact for these intrepid ladies from the Far East, and only you can decide if you're up to the challenge of joining in.--Matthew Cooke