Top 10 Albums of 2012
4. Japandroids- Celebration Rock
Sometimes in music, more is more. Listen to what Phil Spector was able to create with the "Wall of Sound," or the numerous instrumental intricacies that make up a "Good Vibrations" or "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band." We get a beautiful piece of music enhanced in so many good ways that it blows our mind.
But sometimes we get addition by subtraction. I still remember the whole MTV "Unplugged" craze that started with Tesla and perfected by Eric Clapton. Stripping a song down to it's most basic components and making it raw, that also can be oh so powerful.
Like other 2-piece bands before them, The White Stripes, The Black Keys, and The Pack a.d., Japandroids have unleashed the same beast with Celebration Rock. The album fittingly starts off with the sound of fireworks and you are launched into "The Night of Wine and Roses." Drums booming and steady guitars begin and guide this album from start to finish.
Make way for "The House that Heaven Built," which is leading the Spotify charts for Japandroids as I write this. It is a relentless rocker that gives you a taste of punk angst in the lyrics and feel. "Fires Highway" is another high octane anthem with Japandroids delivering the goods. This is only an 8-track album, but they didn't waste any songs.
Celebration Rock ends with "Continuous Thunder," a slower track that is my favorite. I've seen them on live youtube videos almost apologize for putting out a slower number, but it is is totally unnecessary, because though the song is slower, it is still heavy. And true to it's opening, the last song has an outro to fireworks to put an audible bough on the album.
The Japandroids are making lots of lists by critics, and this time, the critics got it right. So buy this rock album now... and celebrate!
Brian Richardson
Make way for "The House that Heaven Built," which is leading the Spotify charts for Japandroids as I write this. It is a relentless rocker that gives you a taste of punk angst in the lyrics and feel. "Fires Highway" is another high octane anthem with Japandroids delivering the goods. This is only an 8-track album, but they didn't waste any songs.
Celebration Rock ends with "Continuous Thunder," a slower track that is my favorite. I've seen them on live youtube videos almost apologize for putting out a slower number, but it is is totally unnecessary, because though the song is slower, it is still heavy. And true to it's opening, the last song has an outro to fireworks to put an audible bough on the album.
The Japandroids are making lots of lists by critics, and this time, the critics got it right. So buy this rock album now... and celebrate!
Brian Richardson
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