Post Nothing Archives - Various Small Flames https://varioussmallflames.co.uk/tag/post-nothing/ New and independent music Fri, 15 May 2015 10:44:14 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://i0.wp.com/varioussmallflames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/cropped-finalwhite-e1490809629909-1.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Post Nothing Archives - Various Small Flames https://varioussmallflames.co.uk/tag/post-nothing/ 32 32 88787050 Japandroids – Celebration Rock https://varioussmallflames.co.uk/2012/05/28/japandroids-celebration-rock/ Mon, 28 May 2012 14:48:00 +0000 http://www.wakethedeaf.co.uk/?p=606 When I heard that Japandroids were releasing a new album I was unsure as to which direction the Vancouver band would take. In hindsight it was incredibly stupid of me. It’s called ’Celebration Rock’ for Christ’s sake! It picks up where Post-Nothing left off – there’s no revolution in sound, no synths or string sections, just good honest rock music with shout-along choruses. While not as narrative in their style, Japandroids remind me of a noise rock version of The […]

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]]> When I heard that Japandroids were releasing a new album I was unsure as to which direction the Vancouver band would take. In hindsight it was incredibly stupid of me. It’s called ’Celebration Rock’ for Christ’s sake! It picks up where Post-Nothing left off – there’s no revolution in sound, no synths or string sections, just good honest rock music with shout-along choruses. While not as narrative in their style, Japandroids remind me of a noise rock version of The Hold Steady; songs which rely on energy and goodwill while retaining an intelligence and depth, celebratory songs. Hence why Celebration Rock could not be more aptly named. They sing of glorious nights and chances missed, bringing to mind that awfully human phenomenon of waiting for the golden days, even as we live through them. An inability to live for the moment (at least without self-destruction). Again I find myself thinking of the wisdom of David Foster Wallace: The idea that all of the way through life we are looking for a door, a door we must reach and pass through in order to be happy. What happens when we finally get there? It opens inwards and we discovered we have been inside what we desired all along. Japandroids seem to urge you to do otherwise.

Exactly how Brian King and David Prowse manage to make as much noise as they do was a bit of mystery before I saw them live myself. I was lucky enough to catch them in Cardiff on the first date of their current UK tour. Firstly, seeing them live allows you to appreciate that they really are just two men with a guitar and a drum kit and the relative simplicity of what they do becomes apparent. Secondly, these guys give it everything. King declared that they give ‘every fucking drop’ and they dutifully obliged, alternating between new songs and old to keep things fresh (also including Darkness on the Edge of Gastown, a personal favourite and a killer live). Just brilliant. Don’t take my word for it though – if you find yourself in London tonight (28th May) drag yourself along to the Old Blue Last for a free show.

Celebration Rock is available to buy from Polyvinyl Records. Order it now for an instant MP3 download of the album to enjoy.

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