Japandroids: Celebration Rock

     

     In 2009,  Japandroids, a post-punk duo from British Columbia, released Post Nothing, their debut album.  Although critically acclaimed, the band decided not to proceed with the band, as the band was seemingly going nowhere, at least on a commercial level.  After three years of recuperation, the band reunited to record Celebration Rock, another masterful showcase of their lo-fi talents.
   The album appropriately opens with booming fireworks; a foreshadowing of the exploding punk to come.  The album portrays the organic maturation of Brian Prowse, and David King (Japandroids respective members), both in musically and personally.  Celebration Rock still has songs about drinking, smoking, and girls, but have more conceptual lyrics about coming into adulthood.   The high energy rock wallops the listener of youthful energy, but the lyrics tactfully describe the mid-twenties slow journey into self-actualization.
     Celebration Rock's gritty musicianship provides for some harsh continuity, but for this type of garage rock, it is easily forgiven, and accepted.  The jostling progression of Celebration Rock, combined with the intentional lack of overdubs provides a natural sensation that the current indie scene severely lacks.  As the album ends, and the same fireworks now bookend Celebration Rock, it has become apparent that, for these Canadian rockers, the sky is the limit.