Mummy the Peepshow, School Girl Pop

Hey, all you Asian fetishists: Mummy the Peepshow just put out their first full-length album, School Girl Pop, in the U.S., on Records of the Damned! There’s Maki, who sings and plays the guitar, Naru the bassist, and Mayu, the drummer. Three lovely, bubbly Japanese women performing poppin’ tunes to their hearts’ content — what more could you ask for?

While not as musically diverse as the likes of Cibo Matto or Pizzicato Five, and not quite as novel as the 5.6.7.8’s, Mummy the Peepshow prove that their music is just as fun to listen to. So fun, in fact, that this could be an album the whole family could enjoy, adults and children alike. Consider School Girl Pop as a substitute for those ear-splittingly annoying CDs sung by kids for kids that you’re forced to listen to when your children are around. This is to ensure that your sanity remains sound (and plus, with songs like “Cut” and “Hello Stan,” the little tykes can learn Japanese!).

School Girl Pop is the girls’ fourth studio album since their formation in 1994. Although her vocals are somewhat nasal, Maki sings nicely in both her native tongue and English alongside sugary, sweet punk-lite melodies. A kazoo hums merrily as Maki sings “Don’t say goodbye / C’mon dance with me” in “Good Bye.” “Good Morning,” on the other hand, features no lyrics — just a whistle and a dog barking — and “Sailing” is reminiscent of early-’90s No Doubt.

Check out their official Website to learn about their tour experiences in the U.S. and Europe. You can also find out little-known facts about each member: Maki loves beer, Naru’s blood type is O, and Mayu listens to the Pixies. And because the site can be translated into English, reading their journals is cute, if a bit awkward. When talking about Ladyfest, Mummy the Peepshow had this to say about all the women with whom they played: “Every girls are shining!!!”