japandroids Celebration Rock (180g white vinyl LP, £12.95)

LP format with a 12”x12” 20-page booklet and download code. · ‘Celebration Rock’, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed ‘Post-Nothing’, was recorded at The Hive, the same Vancouver studio as ‘Post-Nothing’, with engineer Jesse Gander. · Japandroids kept the ground rules they’ve always had for recording: No double-tracking guitars and no overdubs unless they’re absolutely necessary. · The raw energy captured on ‘Celebration Rock’ is well-balanced with a much bigger sound, showcasing the band’s growth as songwriters. · Songs like ‘Evil’s Sway’ and ‘The House That Heaven Built’ prove the Vancouver duo has more than staying power with this sophomore release. · “As contagious as any of the lyrics, melodies, riffs, or drum fills are, their energy and lack of self-consciousness is every bit as equally lovable. 8.3 Best New Music” - Pitchfork · “A million years ago, a label called SST briefly held a monopoly on everything awesome in indie rock - The Minutemen, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Black Flag, Hüsker Dü. And if the young Vancouver band called Japandroids had been around then, SST would have put them out, too” - NY Magazine · “Japandroids are utterly amazing” - NME · “Even those who believe that there’s nothing new to express with a guitar, drums and two voices may have their jaded hearts melted by Japandroids’ blue-flame exuberance” - Chicago Tribune