A new album from pop rock outfit SHONEN KNIFE is due for release this June. The new album titled POP TUNE will be released simultaneously in Japan, America and also in the UK.
Amongst the tracks scheduled for the album are Osaka Rock City which is the theme song for the film Soul Flower Train that’s due for release later this year.
2012 marks Shonen Knife’s 30th Anniversary since playing their first show in Osaka on 14th March 1982. The band took their influences from the likes of The Buzzcocks and particularly The Ramones – in fact the trio released a tribute album titled Osaka Ramones last year. They became very popular in the West during the latter part of the 1980’s and Sonic Youth and Kurt Cobain declared themselves as fans. Although there’s been a few line-up changes along the way, Shonen Knife have continued to perform both at home and abroad. in 2010 the trio were chosen by Matt Groening to perform at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival he curated in Minehead in the UK.
The track listing for POP TUNE is:
1. Welcome To The Rock Club
2. Pop Tune
3. Osaka Rock City
4. All You Can Eat
5. Paper Clip
6. Psychedelic Life
7. Mr. J
8. Ghost Train
9. Sunshine
10. Move On
Shonen Knife will begin album release shows from the end of June until the beginning of July in Japan. They will also be touring North America in the end of July through August.
POP TUNE is due for release on 6th June 2012.
Text by Paul Browne
10th April 2012