![]() ![]() ![]() Then comes “No Known Drink or Drug”, another song written for dreamers who find themselves motivated when under the influence of Molson Canadian, ripe with its fair share of “Na na na’s” and “Oooh’s” that, somehow, empower listeners to take action. Japandroids know how to channel their inner Tom Petty minus the timestamp. The album’s title-track is a subtle anthem that takes several listens to reveal its strengths despite its straightforward arrangements. On Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, Japandroids pick up where they left off, urging listeners to grab their friends and yell lyrics back in their face. ![]() Their third album tries to rejuvenate a love for the mawkishness, and, for the most part, they’re successful. At various points throughout, Near To The Wild Heart Of Life seems victim of exactly that. It seems Japandroids sought out a new way of writing, and when a band takes risks, they run the chance of losing their heart. It’s eight songs long once again, but none of them are covers (We see you, Thin Lizzy and The Gun Club). Though it was recorded by Jesse Gander, the man who handled their last two albums, the record sounds polished in a way their past works hadn’t. The two wrote Near To The Wild Heart Of Life over the course of 20, hiding from the press and, it seems, hiding from their past selves. It’s been five years of waiting for a new Japandroids album. ![]() So they did - and well enough to revive those who thought rock died. Japandroids wanted to revive the mottos of ‘70s rock acts with the spiteful fury of ‘80s punk. Drummer David Prowse grew blisters on his thumb with each song. Singer-guitarist Brian King was constantly one bulbous neck vein away from vocal damage. When Post-Nothing came out, “Young Hearts Spark Fire” was a rally cry to stand back up, and when Celebration Rock appeared three years later, “The House That Heaven Built” did the same. The Vancouver duo figured out how to merge Thin Lizzy gaudiness with the callous heat of punk. Usually it’s not music about life being sucked out of you that does the trick, but back in 2009, Japandroids proved that to be possible. When the world sucks life out of you, music pushes life back into you. ![]()
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