Japandroids

Second time around, Vancouver, BC duo Japandroids come out swinging, creating a record that's harder, better, faster and stronger than their excellent debut, 2009's Post Nothing. Anyone expecting sweeping changes to the duo's sound - big anthems filtered through Hüsker Dü's New Day Rising - will be disappointed, as the record lives up to its title, delivering pedal to the metal rock throughout its eight tracks. However, they'd also be missing the point - one listen to barnstorming first single "The House that Heaven Built" and it's clear that Japandroids aren't interested in crafting artful soundscapes. Rather, they focus on walls of guitar and big sing-alongs. A return to the Hive Creative Labs, with producer Jesse Gander, ensures that the band's second record won't stray too far from their first, but their songwriting has improved. Where Brian King used to rely on repeated mantras to get his lyrical ideas across, Celebration Rock sees the singer/guitarist fleshing out his notions, as he does on "Younger Us," which first appeared as part of the act's seven-inch series back in 2010. Bookended by crackling fireworks, Celebration Rock is Japandroids' declaration that they're here for a good time. Let's hope they're here for a long time as well.