Most fans of the band consider this to be the best of Shonen Knife's albums.
This is what pop music was originally and this is how it should be and always stay: just pure fun. Shonen Knife is (was? - are they still around?) a Japanese power-pop trio/girl group. Think of the Go-Go's speeded up to Ramones' velocity and sound relocated to Japan and you get the idea. This album is just chock-full of catchy, unpretentious gems from the energetic "Twist Barbie" to the unaffected charm of "I Am a Cat". And how can any power-pop aficionado resist the 2 very different versions of the "Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner's Theme"? That's the adjective I would use to describe this collection: irresistible. This album is not so much zany or goofy as it is an amalgam of retro pop styles from punk to surf with some Eastern intrigue thrown in for good measure ("Ah, Singapore"). Makes perect sense to me and in a perfect world this is music you would actually get to hear on the radio. Listening to this album, somehow the world doesn't seem so mean and threatening a place no matter what's going on in it and yes, it will put a smile on your face. This one's on my list of Top 50 all-time albums and their next one "Rock Animals" is also very good. And did I mention... these girls ROCK!
…it’s so funny, amusing, and very addicting. I know most people won't give them credit and pass them off as a novelty, but their songs are amazing... and they have a since of humor. My favorite track on the album is the 50's-like "Cycling Is Fun"...
I want to go I want to go To the green fields with you baby C'mon let's go wo wo wo... Riding on a bicycle together We could ride forever C'mon let's go wo wo wo... Riding on the cycling road Everyone is having fun Riding on the cycling road Nobody knows our cycling road
Run run run de run Ride, riding on a bicycle
I want to go I want to go To the green fields with you baby C'mon let's go wo wo wo... Riding on a bicycle together We could ride forever C'mon let's go wo wo wo...
Riding on the cycling road See the green trees passing by Sun is shining down on me I don't have to wonder why
Run run run de run Ride, riding on a bicycle
Riding on the cycling road Green green grass surrounding me Wind is blowing through the trees Sun is bright and I feel happy
I can’t find my bicycle how did I get home It hurts to hold my head to the phone Where’d all my money go can you tell me did I lose it Lose it all don’t you know Man I feel so used up But if I slowed down would it all catch up Yeah at least I see the sunrise Oh it eats up my mind Yeah just like her at my side And by the way what’s going on tonight Think I gotta go to work Jesus Christ I’m late Oh man oh man I gotta go Thanks for all your help last night Don’t you worry everything will be alright Yeah at least I see the sunrise Oh it eats up my mind Yeah just like her at my side And by the way what’s going on tonight I could tell you about my life but I’m not the kind to cry I could shed this ugly skin but It hurts too much to try Yeah at least I see the sunrise Oh it eats up my mind Yeah just like her at my side And by the way what’s going on tonight
Usually known professionally as Melanie, she is best known for her hits "Brand New Key", "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" and "What They Done To My Song Ma". Melanie has sold over 25 million records over the course of her career.
"Brand New Key" became a novelty hit in 1971-2. Taken from Melanie's album Gather Me the song (also known as "The Rollerskate Song") was her biggest hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in December 1971 and January 1972. Melanie's version of "Brand New Key" was also featured in the 1997 film Boogie Nights.
The song is lighthearted in tone, sung from the viewpoint of a girl trying to attract the attention of a boy:
I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together and try them out you see
The rollerskates in question would have been quad skates which fitted over ordinary footwear and were tightened with a screw. The girl's skates are presumably adequate, as she is already skating, but not perfect, as she needs the key:
I roller skated to your door at daylight[...]
I'm okay alone, but you got something I need
Many listeners detected innuendo in the lyrics, with the key in its lock symbolizing sexual intercourse, or in phrases like "I go pretty far" and "I been all around the world". The phrase "new key" could be interpreted as "nookie", slang for sexual intercourse.
Melanie has acknowledged the possibility of reading sexual innuendo in the song:
"Brand New Key I wrote in about fifteen minutes one night. I thought it was cute; a kind of old thirties' tune. I guess a key and a lock have always been Freudian symbols, and pretty obvious ones at that. There was no deep serious expression behind the song, but people read things into it. They made up incredible stories as to what the lyrics said and what the song meant. In some places, it was even banned from the radio. "My idea about songs is that once you write them, you have very little say in their life afterward. It's a lot like having a baby. You conceive a song, deliver it, and then give it as good a start as you can. After that, it's on its own. People will take it any way they want to take it."
I rode my bicycle past your window last night I roller skated to your door at daylight It almost seems that you're avoiding me I'm ok alone but you've got something I need
Well, I've gotta brand new pair of roller skates You got a brand new key I think that we should get together And try them out ya see I've been lookin' around a while You got somethin' for me Oh, I gotta brand new pair of roller skates You got a brand new key
I ride my bike, I roller skate, don't drive no car Don't go too fast, but I go pretty far For somebody who don't drive I've been all around the world Some people say I've done all right for a girl Oh yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah-yeah
I asked your mother if you were at home She said yes, but you weren't alone Oh sometimes I think that your avoiding me I'm ok alone but you got something I need well
I've gotta brand new pair of roller skates You got a brand new key I think that we should get together And try them out ya see La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la Oh, I gotta brand new pair of roller skates You got a brand new key
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la Oh, I gotta brand new pair of roller skates You got a brand new key
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la Oh, I gotta brand new pair of roller skates You got a brand new key
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la Oh, I gotta brand new pair of roller skates You got a brand new key
Debut album from the singer/songwriter, housed in a sleeve that Lisa Hannigan did the needle-work for herself, The album features 10 tracks including `An Ocean And A Rock', `Venn Diagram' and the lead single, `Lille'. Musical personnel on the album includes Donagh Molloy, Tomo, Shane Fitzsimons, Lucy Wilkins, Vyvienne Long, Gavin Glass and Cathy Davey who provides backing vocals on some of the songs. Lisa has contributed guest vocals on a number of other artists' recordings, including The Frames, Mic Christopher, and Herbie Hancock. She performed on the track 'Don't Explain,' with Damien Rice on Hancock's album, Possibilities.
Keep It All - has almost a Cowboy Junkies vibe to it. A standout on the disc. Driving drum beat, bass line, cello, and guitar. Where the lead singer of Cowboy Junkies always sounded like she was on Qualueds, Lisa Hannigan has all her senses and hits perfect notes.
For you, we steer a house of smoke and brick and I keep it all For you, bedecked with bicycles to pick and I keep it all For you, it wouldn't do wandering all adrift so I keep it all For you, there's fire in the belly of our ship, I keep it all
Call if the lights on, come in and lay low Just so that you know, go on and Fall down and hold your ground, A harbour that grows And how could you know, that I keep it all
For you we fill our sails with tales and fables I keep it all For you, to bear you through stormy seas unstable and I keep it all, For you, you're welcome to all that's on my table I keep it all And you, I count you til I fall asleep, I keep it all.
Call if the lights on, come in and lay low Just so that you know, go on and Fall down and hold your ground, A harbour that grows And how could you know, that I keep it all
What you say we come up with the sun, The morning bell to come And be my friend until the end I'll be your friend as well
woah oh oh oh!
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Music and Words by Lisa Hannigan
Featuring Lisa Hannigan – Vocals, Dobro and Harmonium Donagh Molloy – Trumpet, Melodica Tom Osander - Drums, Stylophone, Shakers Shane Fitzsimmons – Upright Bass Lucy Wilkins – Violin Vyvienne Long – Cello
It seems that the album cover art shown is the one Axl showed the crowd 6 years earlier. In Hong Kong, China, August 14, 2002, Axl showed the crowd artwork for "Chinese Democracy". Accordingly, the artwork is in a sepaia tone and features a bicycle – with a basket resting on the seat - in front of a wall where someone had grafittied "Guns N' Roses". The photo was taken by Terry Hardin.
John Flansburghintroduced this song at thefirst showit was played at by saying,
"Here come a brand new song. This song is about a fictitious rock band that became a phenomenon called Dirt Bike. It's the story of their phenomonon."
Here's what Flansburgh said about Dirt Bike in a 1994 interview from ABC: - 21:43, 18 Jan 2006 (EST)
It's kind of a song about a kid who's sitting in this town and there's this religious cult passing through the country, and he's just kind of thinking about getting swept up in the cult and what that's gonna be like.
Introducing the song in concert soon after John Henry came out, Flans said that the song is about "certain bands spreading their message of hate around the country”.
They Might Be Giants expands to a sextet on its fifth album,John Henry. Even with the addition of bass, drums, sax, and trumpet, the focus is still on the goofy vocals, silly lyrical puns, and accordion-driven hooks of John Flansburgh and John Linnell, and that is not a good thing. These 20 songs include a tune that quotes Allen Ginsberg's "Howl," love songs to a dirt bike and a copy shop clerk, and a song that takes its lyrics from Alice Cooper song titles. If that sounds like your idea of clever, enjoy.--Jim DeRogatis
Beware of the dirt bike Because I hear they're coming to our town They've got plans for everyone And now I hear they're over their sophomore jinx So you had better check it out All hail the dirt bike Philosopher dirt bike Silence as we gathered round We saw the word and were on our way Now it's brain washing dirt bike Ground shaking dirt bike Mind bending dirt bike in control Soul crushing dirt bike Self propelled dirt bike You see I never thought understand til that bike took me by the hand Now I ride...
Great new album from legendary members of The Jayhawks. It's so great to hear these two on the same CD again, they were born to sing together.
Maybe "Bicycle" is the best bicycle song for some years. Someone knows the lyrics?
Although they've toured together and renewed their friendship, this is the first recording by Olson and Louris since Olson left the Jayhawks in 1995. What would become READY FOR THE FLOOD was recorded at Sage & Sound Studios in Hollywood with friend Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes. Louris had called in Robinson, who happened to be in town at that point, for vibe support and he ended up producing the album; he also appears on the album playing harmonica and contributing backing vocals.
READY FOR THE FLOOD captures the stripped down, fingerpicked guitar playing and Laurel Canyon sound of an earlier time, with allusions to English folk Bert Jansch, Nick Drake, John Renbourne, whom both Mark and Gary had both been getting into independently and a simpler, live recording technique where capturing the right vibe was as important as the sound. It s an album that only two career musicians and friends could make organic, intuitive and loosely confident, heartfelt and moving, echoing with the combined experience of two kindred spirits reuniting to do what they do and love best. (Amazon)
Ready for the Flood, produced by Chris Robinson (Black Crowes), not only reunites the two old friends but also their unrivaled harmonies and songwriting skills, reviving their unique sound. The results of the reunion are undeniable, as can be read in early praise for the album: “These new memories—thank the Americana gods—are riddled with Louris and Olson’s past, but there are hints of even older musical moments. . .The production of Black Crowe Chris Robinson lends grit, but is never intrusive, letting the scruffy melodies and jigsaw-puzzle interlocking of these stellar voices do the heavy lifting.” (PASTE MAGAZINE)
About “Bicycle”
A ramshackle introduction with a big, bright chorus. Louris’s vocals have a very rough edge(perhaps from too many cigarettes), but the harmonies are excellent.
It’s hard to ride at night on your bicycle with no lights to guide just take a chance and ride on your bicycle with no lights to guide
The imagery matches well with the uplifting chorus. Complete review
"Bicycle" travels a Dylan path, but Robinson's invisible country-twang influence can be heard in this storyline song. Complete review
…It continues on “Bicycle”—no longer a child’s toy, now the only affordable vehicle in tough times—“It’s hard to ride at nights with no lights to guide”—but of course, it’s all a metaphor.
Frequently, Mark would come up with an initial lyric idea, Gary would feed off that, bounce back with more to
Mark, and a song would grow from their urgent interplay… Complete review
“My favorite track on the new record is “Bicycle.” Can you shed some light on that song in particular? What inspired it and when was it written?
Mark Olson: It was written in Gary’s garage during our session there. The song is about what it is like to be dependent on bicycle transportation in America where everything is geared towards the car, and how that feels to be riding when you probably ought to be driving. interview
