Review: Japandroids – Near to the Wild Heart of Life

Japandroids
Near to the Wild Heart of Life

Anti-
Streets: 01.27
Japandroids = The Thermals + Jimmy Eat World

Since their inception in 2006, Japandroids have done two remarkable things: First, they carved a recognizable, niche sound for themselves within just a few years of forming, a challenge that most bands struggle with for years before finding a musical trademark that will separate them from the other two million artists on Spotify. Second, Japandroids received quite a bit of positive publicity early in their career, when their 2012 sophomore release, Celebration Rock, caught the ear of several major music industry leaders such as Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and Spin. Now, five years since the release of Celebration Rock, Japandroids have surprised friends, fans and the media with Near to the Wild Heart of Life, an album that no one knew was coming — literally.

With the release of Near to the Wild Heart of Life, Japandroids have strengthened their legacy while re-claiming their place as British Columbia’s rock n’ roll darlings. The album opens with the title track, a nostalgic anthem propelled forward by David Prowse‘s laser-sharp, signature bombshell drumming style. Prowse is no stranger to playing at high decibel levels, however, he kicks it up a notch for this track. The synchronization of lead singer and guitarist Brian King’s pumped-up vocals and Prowse’s industrial drumming style gives the song a saturated overtone with guitar distortion on par with modern shoegaze group Yuck.

“North East South West” immediately follows, kicking off with a somewhat subdued drumming intro balanced by King’s preference toward a vocal style tinged with some alt-country harmonies. However, what’s truly remarkable about this track is King’s unique choice to infuse elements of both country and pop, a risk that can end disastrously (Kid Rock, anyone?) — but he pulls it off. Throughout the track, King relentlessly praises the merits of exploring the four corners of the United States, singing, “North east / Southwest / Coast to coast / If ain’t shit / It’s just kicks.”

The most interesting part of Near to the Wild Heart of Life is not its surprising fusion of pop melodies amid its normal go-to genres, but that all eight songs on this album were furtively written in 2015 and 2016 from behind closed doors in four different cities: Vancouver, Toronto, New Orleans and Mexico City. Japandroids fans had no idea a new album was going to be released, making Near to the Wild Heart of Life the most unprecedented dark horse album of 2017.

Near to the Wild Heart of Life is very much a modern album that successfully retains the signature sound of Japandroids while incorporating fresh, even darker story lines than their previous releases. The fifth track, “Arc of Bar,” is a darkly tinted, slightly religious anecdote in which King sings, “For our love / I would help the devil / Just steal Christ / Right off the cross.” Near to the Wild Heart of Life is, ultimately, a successful third release from the band. If Near to the Wild Heart of Life is any indication of what 2017 will look like musically, then it looks like it’s going to be a good year. –Kristin Porter