Bonsai Kittens | The Big Laugh Happy Happy Joy Joy Album

Bonsai Kittens: The Big Laugh Happy Happy Joy Joy Album

It sounds just like the cover: cuddly, playful, pert, sharp clawed and perfectly miniaturised. That's all you need to know about this six-tracked litter tray of feline droppings from the Bonsai Kittens. I won't mention the 4 second Satanic message at the beginning.

But I'll waffle on for a bit longer so you feel as though you've got your money's worth.

"Stop Whinging And Play Your Guitar" slaps your head with a crisp drum beat intro and shoves you into the bushes with a Pinky and Perky keyboard tune of Joe Meek wonderfulness. While you catch your breath, two smart Alec female voices insinuate chopped bollocks, PMT and arseholes into an otherwise mild mannered dig to the ribs of the two humourless pre-post-feminist musicians left on the planet. "I'm so oppressed I want to die" Yeh, satire! But it is funny. And the two part harmony is most engaging. There's a wonderfully neat instrumental episode too.

"Poor Johnny" is, and abuses, pop classical. Semi-spoken girlie vocals a la Shangri Las decorate that tune that got to number six in the Canadian charts for Pat Boone in July 1962 - the fabulous "Speedy Gonzales". It's about special offers and (probably) sex in the aisles, symbolically represented by Johnny getting "crushed". But I was laughing and jiggling about too much to listen carefully. A towering achievement.

"Let's All Go to Wakefield" is probably pushing things a bit. Children might be listening, for chrissake. There are some nifty guitar chords that I would like to learn, though. Something about cheese too. Edam I think.

"Consumed By Evil" manages to make a simple keyboard sound very scary and very funny at the same time. The seriously good bass line works a treat and there's a fabulous double lead guitar break that tinkles. It does. It tinkles. Maybe the voices take their subject matter a bit seriously? (It's something to do with death metal not necessarily making you want to kill your parents - obviously a contentious point of view among those of us who live in the suburbs with 14 year old sons.)

"Her Next Door" is about a bad person who lives next door. The singing has a Jennifer Saunders flatness about it. "Thanks for coming round to complain" it burbles. There's a certain insincerity that I can't quite put my finger on "We do appreciate your patience, or lack of it" they croon, sub melodically. Musical inventiveness surges through it and continues into the fabulous "Trev's Advice" in groovy groovy groovy John (Bad Boy) Shuttleworth territory This tune outdoes even JS's meisterwerk "Pigeons in Flight". Taking a stab at genre spotting, I'd say it was upbeat Bossa Nova/Perv Metal fusion.

And it ends on really great sounding wooden block whacks.

Who says two inventive, intelligent, funny women with access to computerised recording equipment and a deep love of pop music can't make bloody marvellous records? Ha! Not me. If Everett True discovers this stuff he's going to become unmanageable.

Comments

Mike_Q wrote...

Yay! Kittens rock ! Meeeeeowwwww!

Profile | Posted 9th May 2004 at 09:07

Siglacken wrote...

i downloaded one of their tracks. Thought it was pretty cack. what do i know though

Profile | Posted 14th May 2004 at 18:59

Sam Saunders wrote...

Well I guess you know what you thought of it - and you thought it was cack. Fair dos. Any music that's s a bit out there is going to have some devoted fans and some who are just not interested. I mostly thought it was wonderfully funny (words and music). Kind of like Little England or something funny ... not everybody'e saucer of milk. And you probably wouldn't put it main stage at Leeds Fest. Go back again sometime and listen to all the tracks - it starts to get to you.

Profile | Posted 14th May 2004 at 21:32

Siglacken wrote...

Maybe I will one day Sam. Wow kinda sounds like lord of the rings.

Profile | Posted 14th May 2004 at 21:45

Sam Saunders wrote...

chuckles at the thought

Profile | Posted 14th May 2004 at 22:07

NikBonsai wrote...

From "Bloody marvellous" to "pretty cack" - we must be the musical equivalent of marmite! Cheers for taking the time to download one of our tunes though - each one does have its own personality so you might enjoy a different one more....or of course you might just hate em all!

As for marmite, I'm a 'hate it' kinda gal, just in case anyone was wondering...

Profile | Posted 20th May 2004 at 08:23

Mike_Q wrote...

Girls hate everything don't they?

Profile | Posted 20th May 2004 at 10:37

instantrick wrote...

Especially men making generalised comments about their sex! Oh doh!

Profile | Posted 20th May 2004 at 15:18

NikBonsai wrote...

Nah - just marmite and irritating drummers...

Profile | Posted 20th May 2004 at 16:02

NikBonsai wrote...

Profile | Posted 20th May 2004 at 16:03

Mike_Q wrote...

Ah it's only Nik, she won't mind!!

Look, I bet she doesn't duff me up even if I say girls can't throw, chop wood with an axe or explain the offside rule to a Dutch policeman in Grimsby.

Profile | Posted 20th May 2004 at 16:04

NikBonsai wrote...

We're playing in Grimsby again in July so I will have occasion to disprove your theory Quarry me lad...

Profile | Posted 21st May 2004 at 08:15

Mike_Q wrote...

Brilliant, you're on. If you find a Dutch policeman in Grimsby and explain the offside rule to him I will buy you lunch for the rest of the year my big bad sis !

Profile | Posted 21st May 2004 at 11:09

NikBonsai wrote...

Less of the 'big', I told you already!!

Profile | Posted 21st May 2004 at 13:50

Siglacken wrote...

Ok well i downloaded another song. i'm still not getting. This is either cack music or its so good thats it way above me

Profile | Posted 26th May 2004 at 20:32

NikBonsai wrote...

But that's cool, cause some people really do like it. I don't think I've ever been in a band before which has attracted such opposing reactions, and that's reassuring cause it does prove that folks out there have different tastes rather than just swallowing all the same stuff (despite the fact that the record companies try to feed us exactly that). Luckily for us this is also purely a hobby, so we can embrace the differing opinions without seeing any negative ones as a threat to our plans of world domination

Profile | Posted 27th May 2004 at 08:31

Mike_Q wrote...

Aww, you're the nicest gal in rock! I for one am just glad to see that bass back in your hand. Twas a sad year in Leeds without your rockness. Good to see Si though that at least you've given something a try before you've dismissed it, and in fact tried it again I don't think bands can ask for any more than that. No one is gonna like everything.

Profile | Posted 27th May 2004 at 10:00

NikBonsai wrote...

Cheers Mikey (ya geet big softie)! But yes, was a strange year - just say no to work taking over your life kids! And Sig - ta for giving us a 2nd chance (now you know for sure!), It's purely down to individual taste - when someone says 'that's cack' or 'that's ace', they can only be saying 'I think that's cack' or 'I think that's ace' cause they can't possible represent the views of everyone. Although some people seem to think they can, see the live review of us & Bosseye on the site for instance! (sorry, couldn't resist ) Anyway, this is all a bit too serious for me - hope I'm getting it out of my system in time for gig tonight! See ya there Mikey boy.

Profile | Posted 27th May 2004 at 15:14

Siglacken wrote...

Yes you r both right. I am great. Even though i m' not a fan of your music you are still better then the Darkness

Profile | Posted 27th May 2004 at 17:46

NikBonsai wrote...

Now that is a quote and a half!

Profile | Posted 28th May 2004 at 08:39

Siglacken wrote...

damn i think your music might be growing on me. damn you evil women

Profile | Posted 30th May 2004 at 22:45

braddersfromtheblock wrote...

*mwahahahahaaaaaaaaa!!*

Glad to hear it Si... having music grow on you is better than having mould grow on you at least. Or something.

Profile | Posted 31st May 2004 at 23:51

Siglacken wrote...

Damn you again

Profile | Posted 2nd June 2004 at 19:10

DJ Tabclear wrote...

Yep, i'm liking it to. Can't explain why though

Profile | Posted 6th June 2004 at 11:40

DJ Tabclear wrote...

Kind of like those chocolate covered pretzels that came out about 4 years ago. They tasted like crap but i just couldn't get enough of them. "Bonzai Kittens, the chocolate pretzels of the music world"

Profile | Posted 6th June 2004 at 12:06

braddersfromtheblock wrote...

I think that quote is going to find its way onto one of our fliers quite soon...

Profile | Posted 6th June 2004 at 15:20

NikBonsai wrote...

Sarah - you do the best written evil laugh I've ever read. I'm sure everyone will be most delighted to hear that we will we recording our 2nd opus next weekend so there will soon be more tunes to annoy yet infiltrate you...

Profile | Posted 7th June 2004 at 08:20

Siglacken wrote...

I'm not sure whether I should be scared or excited

Profile | Posted 7th June 2004 at 08:29

braddersfromtheblock wrote...

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Profile | Posted 10th June 2004 at 18:21

NikBonsai wrote...

I am.

Profile | Posted 11th June 2004 at 10:41

Review of Bonsai Kittens's CD "The Big Laugh Happy Happy Joy Joy Album"