1. The Nights of Wine and Roses 2. Fire's Highway 3. Evil's Sway 4. For the Love of Ivy 5. Adrenaline Nightshift 6. Younger Us 7. The House That Heaven Built 8. Continuous Thunder
Japandroids Celebration Rock
Celebration Rock was never supposed to happen for Japandroids, but I am sure they and their fans are glad it did. Originally the Vancouver duo was only planning on releasing their one full-length, the loud and fuzz-filled rocker Post-Nothing, because the band never really took off. I guess critical praise can change minds though, so the band decided to tour, things went well, and here we are.
For those less familiar, Japandroids are comprised of Brian King (guitar and vocals) and David Prowse (drums and vocals), and for two guys they make a big sound. It is said they are two guys trying sound like five, and if anyone can, they do.
There are a lot of similarities between Post-Nothing and Celebration Rock. Just one look at the covers lets you know that they aren’t too different. And the fact that they are both 8 song albums, clocking in at 35 minutes a piece doesn’t help. You still get that same big fuzzy sound and two dudes screaming at you. There are differences though, and those differences make Celebration Rock better than its predecessor.
Knowing what we do about Post-Nothing, it’s easy to hear the sound of two guys getting older, trying to be rock stars, and dealing with having to give it all up some day. It’s what appeared to be happening in their lives, and while it still rocks, it’s a bit of a bummer at times because it’s where many of us have eventually gone (or sadly will be some day). Celebration Rock is the album of those same guys that ended up getting to become what they had hoped to become and lets the world know not to give up and that “if they can do it, you can too.” In doing so, it takes that similar sound, and puts a positive and uplifting spin on it all. Hell even starts and ends with fireworks!
Simply put, if you want an album to rock out to this summer, Celebration Rock is it. It’s made for running in the sun, driving fast, and screaming with your drunken friends late into the night. Maybe it’s not all that different than the previous Japandroids album, but if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it… unless you make little fixes that make it better. This is what Japandroids have done this go round. In doing so they remind us, and themselves, that rock isn’t about getting older, it’s about being young forever.
Key Tracks: The Nights of Wine and Roses, For the Love of Ivy, The House That Heaven Built
