Shonen Knife - Our Best Place (2023)

After over 40 years as a band, Shonen Knife show no signs of slowing down on 2023's Our Best Place. In fact, this is another installment in an impressive revival for the group. The albums leading up to this showed an almost alarming amount of spunky energy and powerful punch, and Our Best Place adds to it. Possibly the addition of drummer Risa Kawano added some jet fuel to their rocket; she certainly sounds rock-solid throughout. Naoko and Atsuko Yamano handle their respective instruments -- guitar and bass -- with confidence born of years spent cranking out this happy-making kind of bubblegummy pop-punk. Naoko Yamano comes across especially well as she lays down jagged power chords, unspools catchy melodies, and even tosses in some Thin Lizzy-style harmony leads for good measure. The vocals sound happily wonderstruck -- as expected -- as they sing about nice beverages ("Afternoon Tea"), aquatic life ("Ocean Sunfish"), and having a nice day ("Nice Day"). The group's harmonies are fantastic too. When they come together on the guilelessly optimistic indie pop ballad "Better," it's hard not to end up grinning from ear to ear. The breezy sweetness with which they tackle a cover of Pilot's "Just a Smile" is something to behold as well. The song ends the record on an incredibly uplifting note and makes a compelling case for the Knife as a great capital "P" pop band. Elsewhere, they crash through punky numbers like the inspiring "Girls Rock" and "MUJINTO Rock" with all the abandon of a band making their first album. They also add another classic food song to their pantheon. Just try listening to "Spicy Veggie Curry" without drooling a little. It all adds up to the kind of album Shonen Knife have been making for years, only with a little extra pizazz this time. It's heartening to know that the band are still making records this good after so long, one that should put punk-pop groups half their age or more on notice.© Tim Sendra /TiVo