Japandroids: Power garage noise pop duo
Japandroids: Powerful garage duo from Vancouver conquers world.
When filmmaker Jorge Pérez y Michel from México and my friend in Spain Jose Luis told me they liked a band called Japandroids from Vancouver I was not surprised. I knew my suspicions were right when I saw them at Shindig and thought these two guys were going to places. A powerful duo with a sonic sound. When I saw them live I could not stop thinking of the male counterpart of the Pack AD, a male guitar player with an angry voice and a loud drummer pounding the kit. But they are more into the sonic realms than the blues. Among their biggest influences are The Sonics, well actually they say: imagine GUNS N ROSES meets IGGY & THE STOOGES meets THE SONICS meets THE ROLLING STONES!!!! that’s the band we wish we were. we’re not though. not even close.”
I think they have assimilated a lot of rock and that shows in their music, I though of a lot of bands while listening to their music, from the Strokes to Trans Am, from the British noise pop of Ride or Jesus and Mary Chain to the New York Sonic Youthish bands. But their sound is direct, like a fist, just a guitar and vocals of Brain King and the drums and vocals of Dave Prowse. They formed the band in 2006 The name Japandroids came from two other band name ideas: Japanese Scream (from Prowse) and Pleasure Droids (from King). Occasionally they will spell it without vowels, as JPNDRDS.
My favourite song is probably the Boys are leaving town, although the Vancouver-theme Darkness on the edge of Gastown is an eeire song that reminded me of the first Afghan Whigs CD or early Mudhoney, Remember the song Halloween? Their noise pop is catchy and it has hues of Post rock, I guess they were called like that before so that is why they called their debut LP Post Nothing. I would just enjoy these guys music and turn up the volume. They will be on tour soon so checked them out. They will be playing in their hometown “sunny” Vancouver on September 10 with Ladyhawk and PS I love you at the Rickshaw Theatre.
Read more: http://www.myspace.com/japandroids#ixzz0uFZvJdGp
DISCOGRAPHY
No Singles
Prior to Post-Nothing’s release, Japandroids released two 5-song EPs (All Lies and Lullaby Death Jams) on CD-R. The EPs were limited to 500 copies and quickly fell out of print.
No Singles compiles these two EPs into one album. Meticulous packaging designed by the band includes a 32-page booklet detailing Japandroids’ early history, including rare photos and show fliers.
Post Nothing
Building on the buzz of 2008’s Lullaby Death Jams and 2007’s All Lies, Japandroids‘ debut full-length, Post-Nothing, was released in 2009 and immediately began garnering critical acclaim. Four months later, the record was named on numerous year-end lists — earning best-of-2009 honors from Pitchfork, Spin, Stereogum, NME, Exclaim and many, many more.
Tired of being forced to pick a label for their music, Brian (guitar) and Dave (drums) decided that their sound was simply “post-nothing.” These nine gems confirm this: running the gauntlet of rock ‘n roll sub-genres to the point that the boys are ripping off too many different bands to sound like any other duo making music right now.
Gaining just as much positive press for its amazing live shows, Japandroids have played more than 200 concerts across North America and Europe to sold-out crowds who can’t get enough of the band’s loud, heartfelt music. There’s no end in sight – just more tours, more sweat, more chasing after “sunshine girls.”
Younger Us
Finding it difficult to record a full album while in the midst of a heavy touring schedule behind 2009’s acclaimed Post-Nothing, Japandroids devised a 7″ series as a way to give something back to its fans.
Recorded during the duo’s brief period of time off between tours, each two-song 7″ in the five-part series (to be released throughout 2010) will include an A-side of previously unreleased material written during the Post-Nothing sessions and a cover B-side.
Younger Us, the second 7″ in the series, features the title track along with a cover of “Sex and Dying in High Society” by X.
The first 7″, Art Czars, sold out before release date.
Related posts:
