You can almost smell it in the air. The scent is a band on the verge of greatness, currently preparing to be overwhelmed and tested as music publications, bloggers and concertgoers fight for pole position. Magnificently, it's Japandroids (JPNDRDS) from Vancouver who are the latest buzz band, not some product of Brooklyn. Having only seen their name pop in and out of Exclaim! the last two years with their self-released EPs All Lies and Lullaby Death Jams, the duo of Brian King and David Prowse certainly have my undivided attention now because their forthcoming debut album, Post-Nothing (out April 28 on Unfamiliar), is just the sort of confident racket my ears are tuned to these days.
Combining shrewd hooks, propulsive overdrive and melodic punk enthusiasm, Japandroids match the two-person clout of DIY heroes No Age and fallen countrymen Death From Above 1979, and still manage to uphold an unmistakable sound of their own. "Young Hearts Spark Fire" is the album's first warning shot, a frolicsome five-minute fuzzball that climaxes five or six times before they realize its just a song, not a full album. Get used to hearing that name and occasionally spelling it without vowels.
Japandroids "Young Hearts Spark Fire"
Combining shrewd hooks, propulsive overdrive and melodic punk enthusiasm, Japandroids match the two-person clout of DIY heroes No Age and fallen countrymen Death From Above 1979, and still manage to uphold an unmistakable sound of their own. "Young Hearts Spark Fire" is the album's first warning shot, a frolicsome five-minute fuzzball that climaxes five or six times before they realize its just a song, not a full album. Get used to hearing that name and occasionally spelling it without vowels.
Japandroids "Young Hearts Spark Fire"