Stream: Japandroids, ‘Near to the Wild Heart of Life’

Jessica Shalvoy on January 26th, 2017

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To say that the beloved Canadian duo Japandroids’ follow up to 2012’s “Celebration Rock” is highly anticipated is an understatement. Relentless touring for the breakthrough sophomore album wrapped up in 2013 and left Japandroids in desperate need of a break. Now, after five years of waiting, fans can sink their teeth into “Near to the Wild Heart of Life” (out Friday via Anti-), and it doesn’t disappoint.

Lead single and title track, “Near to the Wild Heart of Life,” instantly smacks you in the face with Brian King’s fuzzy guitar and David Prowse’s signature amped-up drum fills, a perfect reminder of what Japandroids are all about. Inspired by a passage from James Joyce’s novel, “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,” the track demonstrates the duo’s punk edge and raw energy.

However, this is far from a carbon copy of “Celebration Rock.” They’ve managed to maintain their sound, while still showing growth. Not only did King and Prowse take a new approach to writing (since they now live in different cities), but they also incorporated new instrumentation and production: synths, bass, acoustic guitar and even loops. Whether it’s the nearly 8-minute-long “Arc of Bar,” the almost folky and more pop “Midnight to Morning,” or the melodic and ‘sha na na na na’-filled second single “No Known Drink or Drug,” Japandroids have been reborn as a sonically diverse version of their old selves.

On “Celebration Rock,” Japandroids succeeded in capturing the intensity and irreverence of their live shows in the studio. On this third album, they’ve merely expanded on that principle with an “anything goes,” experimental mantra. Says King: “If ‘Celebration Rock’ was the culmination of something, then ‘Near To The Wild Heart Of Life’ can be considered the beginning of something else.”

||| Stream: “Near to the Wild Heart of Life”