Japan’s world-famous all-girl alternative pop trio, Shonen Knife have announced Our Best Place, their first new album in nearly three years. Set for release of February 15, 2023, the trio’s 10th full-length release on Good Charamel Records in North America is an exhilarating masterpiece, brimming with punk-pop flavors that harken the emotions and energy of the band’s early classic albums.
With their overseas touring numbers steadily on the rise for several years before the pandemic’s interruption, Shonen Knife are ready to continue their global assault – their first item of business being their new album which was recently completed in Osaka, Japan. It’s their first new music since the release of 2019’s critically acclaimed Sweet Candy Power!
While their albums have always been authentic rock albums with unconventional twists, they’ve returned to the the quirky punk-pop flavor that fueled first four albums and made fans out of Nirvana, Redd Kross, The Ramones, and Sonic Youth (among many others). Our Best Place is an eagerly anticipated return to their roots, especially for long-time fans.
Our Best Place features songs such as “Nice Day” and “MUJINTO Rock”, which are reminiscent of The Jam and Buzzcocks, while the eccentricities of “The Story Of Baumkuchen” deliver the playfulness of their early sound with the hard rock influence that they’ve adopted as of late (which can never be completely removed). The album also hosts a re-record of “Girl’s Rock,” a song which was on Loft Records’ compilation Girls L.T.D – Girls Like To Dance in 2003 and has since become an anthem for many girl bands, as well as a cover of “Just A Smile” by a legendary Scottish Pilot who Naoko is a fan of.
As an added bonus, the CD version will included the added tracks “Nice Day 60’s Mix”, “The Story of Baumkuchen” (Japanese Version – “Baumkuchen no Hanashi”), and “Girl’s Rock” (2023 Japanese Version).”
Our Best Place Tracklist:
1. MUJINTO Rock
2. Nice Day
3. The Story of Baumkuchen
4. Vamos Taquitos
5. Spicy Veggie Curry
6. Girl’s Rock (2023 Version)
7. Afternoon Tea
8. Ocean Sunfish
9. Better
10. Just a Smile
CD ONLY Bonus Tracks
11. Nice Day (60’s Mix)
12. The Story of Baumkuchen (Japanese Version – “Baumkuchen no Hanashi”)
13. Girl’s Rock (2023 Japanese Version)