There is an uptick in chorused “Woah!” and “Yeah!” harmonies, there is a song that’s essentially a drifting shoegaze interlude, there are acoustic guitars. Basically, the record sounds exactly like what you’d expect on the third release from a rock duo that came from humble lo-fi origins. Textured guitar overdubs, subtle synthesizers, a consistent but not abusive use of delay is on display. The production immediately strikes as slicker and more carefully arranged than on previous Japandroids releases. Sonically, Wild Heart is neither a vast departure from previous Japandroids releases nor is it much of a let down. Japandroids lo-fi debut commercial album, 2009’s Post-Nothing, was intended to be their last – the band had planned to call it quits after a small self-release. After eight years as a successful rock band, it appears that Japandroids is still just as committed to delivering hedonistic, celebratory vibes through their rock music but where once anyone who ever had a crush or got way too crossfaded with no consequences could resonate, now it appears you have to be a kick-ass rock band to empathize with King’s lyrics. Guitarist and vocalist Brian King has never really been a great lyricist, but his words survived on their honesty and the emotion he put into singing them. Crucially, neither of these albums felt corny rather, they felt incredibly authentic, the conveying of blunt testosterone-fueled emotions through the most efficient means possible.įive years later, the duo’s third LP, Near to the Wild Heart of Life, is not only corny, but downright cringey. Where Post-Nothing featured minimalist lyrical refrains about young lust and escapism repeated ad nauseam, Celebration Rock pulled lyrics from the exclamations of the band’s fans at a show or from drunken statements of validation on the best night out ever. Amassing heaps of critical praise following their 2009 commercial debut Post-Nothing, their 2012 sophomore effort, Celebration Rock, was the rare guitar album that managed to sound both fresh and familiar, abrasive yet catchy, and feel emotional despite riding almost entirely on positive emotions. Vancouver garage rock duo Japandroids have made a name for themselves as the best guitar/drums act since the late White Stripes.
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