Shonen Knife have endured numerous lineup changes over the years, with Naoko Yamano being the sole remaining original member, but no matter the incarnation, the Osaka trio have remained consistent in releasing some of the most exuberant pop-punk on either side of the Pacific. To celebrate their 30^th anniversary, Shonen Knife have looked back to when it all began and recorded an album paying tribute to their favorite band, and major influence, The Ramones.

Osaka Ramones is an unequivocally faithful collection of cover songs that definitely lives up to its namesake. The famous countdown on “Blitzkrieg Bop” and the Ramones’ signature three-chord guitar crunch on classics like “Rock ‘N’ Roll High School”, “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker”, and favorites such as “The KKK Took My Baby Away” have remained intact, but the voice propelling the songs is that of a Japanese-accented female. Like The Ramones, Shonen Knife are renowned for their straightforward, sub-three-minute pop songs, so it’s no surprise that the 13 covers on Osaka Ramones are so true to the originals. Even the standard practice of swapping out gender-related pronouns has been nixed. The other key difference here is a crisp production style that leans more towards pop than punk.

Simply put, Osaka Ramones is a lot of fun, as is expected from a load of Ramones covers by a similarly rambunctious band. However, is a collection of such note-for-note covers anything more than a lively diversion? What’s the point? Conversely, does a tribute to The Ramones necessitate drastic interpretations in the first place? In the case of The Ramones, where the artist’s trademark is the style of their approach, “messing with success” is not as warranted as it would be for other acts. The fast, forceful style of The Ramones is simple enough for anyone to replicate, but Shonen Knife accomplish what few could by capturing their energy and spirit.

Essential Tracks: “Pinhead”, “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker”, and “Chinese Rock”