Album Review - Japandroinds - Post-Nothing

The Japandroids are a 2 man band that are starting to get some love. They played Pitchfork last summer (which I missed since I was out of town). All reports are they rocked that show. Another successful show at Schuba's followed in the fall and again to rave reviews. I got myself a copy of the show at U of I, which is really fun. THe formula here is lots of loud guitars, energy and plenty of percussion. Sounds simple right? Lots of bands out there are going this route... maybe
it's the White Stripes or Black Keys formula. But the stripes and keys are/were so much more than this new sound.

As for the Japandroids, they are head and shoulders above the other mediocre lo-fi indie bands out there (no age, wavves, high places, etc). The post-nothing album is decent to slightly good (Averages 3 stars on my iTunes). It's 35 minutes of in your face lo-fi rock. It took a little time for it grown on me. Songs like Wet Hair and Heart Sweats are really good. In first releases, I don't always look for a killer record. But I look for strokes of genius. I think these are 2 songs that exhibit that. Crazy/Forever is probably their epic piece, clocking in at just over six minutes. I am going out on limb and thinking it's a jam session that evolved into a decent song for the album. It reminds me of Hum from the mid 90s. I Quit Girls has the love gone wrong sound to it. It's not a break up song like something off of Matthew Sweet Girlfriend or Frighten Rabbit's The Midnight Organ Fight. I like that it can fit their formula.

I really look forward to their sophomore effort. If/when it comes is probably a little premature. But from all accounts, I will definitely see these guys live in a small venue. And if I were you, I'd pick up the album.

Check them out on KEXP.