Our Best Place (Expanded Edition) (Sep 19, 2025)

Shonen Knife Discography

Minna Tanoshiku (1982)	Burning Farm (1983)	Yama-no Attchan (1984)	Pretty Little Baka Guy (1986)
712 (1991)	Let’s Knife (1992)	Rock Animals (1993)	The Birds & the B-Sides (1996)
Brand New Knife (1997)	Happy Hour (1998)	Strawberry Sound (2000)	Heavy Songs (2002)
Candy Rock (2003)	Genki Shock! (2006)	Fun! Fun! Fun! (2007)	Super Group (2008)
Free Time (2010)	Osaka Ramones (2011)	Pop Tune (2012)	Overdrive (2014)
Adventure (2016)	Alive! In Osaka (2018)	Sweet Candy Power (2019)	Our Best Place (2023)

With everybody favorite all-girls Japanese Ramones-esque band Shonen Knife currently in the middle of their U.S. “Everybody Happy” tour (read more on Knives Out), let’s take a look at the re-issue of Our Best Place album. You can pick up this expanded vinyl release, as well as the rare debut album Minna Tanoshiku, the long-lost debut cassette that started it all, at their merchandise table on this 2025 tour.

Having been a longtime fan and seeing the group numerous times, I can tell you, the Japanese loves their merch … you can get everything from towels to headbands at their table. Stuff that you would never see in stores or sold anywhere. Who knows, maybe that special Shonen Knife branded Momokawa Sake? They are also very appreciative when you buy something from them… so get that weird Shonen Knife spoon, or anything weird, and you’ll forever remember that Shonen Knife show forever.

First of all, I actually already own Our Best Place, originally released in 2023, so I’m already familiar with this food-themed album. Of the original 10 tracks, the three stand-out tracks for me is “Nice Day” (with its catchy “have a nice day” chorus), “Girl’s Rock” (they’ve reworked this song from the Japanese lyrics), “Vamos Taquitos” (Spanish-y fun), and “Just a Smile” (a very Carpenters-sounding song).

Fans will likely want to check out the new tracks on the expanded edition, which includes a “60’s Mix” version of “Nice Day”. This song is already pretty good, so the 60’s version is more of what it might sound like if the song was written and mixed in the Beatles-era. For the US audience, we are treated to the Japanese version of “The Story OF Baumkuchen” and “Girl’s Rock.”

Of the extra tracks, my favorite is an alternate version of “Green Tea”, the song that was originally from their 2014 Overdrive album. That record was an homage to hard rock/border-line metal music… a contrast to their previous Pop Tune album (which was a nod towards pop music). Putting “Green Tea” on Our Best Place works because it’s food / drink theme… and because it sounds so different from the other songs that it stands out, and that’s why I like the song. It has a very good guitar hook.

As for the clear (almost vanilla coloring) vinyl, it looks really nice. Especially if you have a turntable protective padding, you can see the artwork underneath. The artwork is an embroidered of the album title, and on the back a large photo of the current trio (drummer Risa Kawano, and the Yamano sisters Naoko and Atsuko).

Remaining tour dates: