Japandroids - Near To The Wild Heart Of Life (Jan 27, 2017) Album • Page 24

My initial impression is this is good not great. I'll see what happens after a few more listens.

 

I like this album, I really do. But I'd be lying to myself if I said the best songs on this album would end up in even the top half of the best songs on Celebration Rock.

 

Picked up the clear today. Excited to put it on.

 

No Known Drink Or Drug is the catchiest little thing. Makes me want to go kiss my girlfriend on the lips.

 

nailed it

 

I like this, I think the last three tracks are really strong, and despite the vast majority of reviews I've read making excessive comparisons to CR, think it kind of occupies its own space in a kinda slower paced, down to earth version of it. Have to agree with the Pitchfork review regarding the title track's lyrics though, probably the low point for me on this sadly.

 

Lyrically after the opener I thing everything is p good to great. Though not a huge fan of Arc of Bar lyrics.

 

Love the hell out of the lyrics on the title track.

 

I think the lyrics to the title track are generally great for most of it, but there are a few lines that are a bit jarring/cliche like "Can’t leave your dreams to chance/Or to a spirit in the sky" or "I used to be good but now I’m bad" that utterly kill it for me, but in reflection that could be as much to do with the delivery as the lyricism. Literally apart from this one song I really like the lyrics, it's strange idk

 

Title track gets me all fired up


get it

 

2 go far away

 

because fuck donald trump.

 

I like every song except "Midnight to Morning." The first half of the album is stronger, but I'm also on board with "In a Body Like a Grave."

 

my thoughts exactly, although midnight is growing on me. the instrumental section in the middle is awesome.

 

idk? but fuck donald trump.

i suppose the argument is, music is not in a vacuum. unfortunately real world events colour our likes or dislikes of certain media and this just had the unfortunate timing of coming out in some of the darkest days of recent US history. it's not a criticism i particularly subscribe too. but it can have an effect. i mean the simplest thing is, people do connect more with sad stuff if they themselves are in a particular headspace. the same thing goes for happy stuff. this album is a happy album but not one that particularly pulls joy out of the listener in my opinion. i like it a bunch but i'm not listening to it and instantly becoming a happier more positive person.

 

I'm starting to really like this. "Body Like A Grave" is my favorite track. So fun to sing along to

 

Love "North East South West."

I'm just a sucker for Americana.

 

the more i listen the more i love it. favorites are North East South West and No Known Drink Or Drug

 

I'm still baffled by Pitchfork's jab at "True Love" and how it sounds like a stab at "real rock" like Black Keys and Foo Fighters. I don't get that impression at all. It's exactly what I expect a Japandroids ballad to sound like.

 

I like this way more than Celebration Rock, but I know I'm in the minority who thought that album was just "meh". I think part of that had to do with how old I was when it came out – I was already 30, married, and settled into my career. Had I been in high school, or even college or law school, when it was released I probably would've loved it.

Also, "True Love . . ." gives me Say Anything vibes (and not in a bad way).

 

Sometimes I sing this song, "North East South West Coast to Coast.... talks like a gentleman like you remember when!!!"

 

"And man, America made a mess of me when I missed with Texas and Tennessee" might be my favorite line on the album. Makes me smile every time.

... Fuck, this isn't leaving my head.

 

This is easily my favorite release from them.

 

I hate to say it, but I'm bored by this after only a couple of listens

I love this band so for the love of god please prove me wrong - what am I missing here?

 

I felt the same way. I was tempted to @ the writer and say something like "Leave it to a mediocre Pitchfork writer to call a Japandroids record 'underwhelming'" but I figured it sounded quite petty and I'd be better off just enjoying the song. "True Love" is an awesome tune, and I couldn't have put it better myself.