Japandroids- Celebration Rock ALBUM REVIEW

[@doomsdaydanceparty7646]

i mean theyre not trying to be the next big thing and bring a whole new sound to the table. its a japandroids album, meant to be energetic raw catchy and emotional, its not trying to be a radiohead album. I loved it

[@theneedledrop]

thanks for actually talking about your opinion on the album, and bringing up some points. :-)

[@theneedledrop]

planning on the possibility of reviewing it near its US release in September.

[@servantlol]

For me it'd be at least an 8. I love the energy of the album, and I especially love the sound of the record. They can make a two-person band sound like a 5-person band without any studio overdubs. Also, they're great live. However, I see and respect your opinion. Maybe I'm just into really noisy rock music. :P

[@theneedledrop]

sorta thinking about the melvins. do i think the mixtape is making hip hop more creative? i think it's making hip hop a bit more competitive, which in turn may make it more creative.

[@theneedledrop]

happy you got something out of the review, and thanks fo requesting. :-)

[@SaveAD]

I love this album. Japandroids has never been about the technical ability (though Prowse is a wicked drummer) or the song writing (most of the lyrics and chord progressions repeat). The album is about partying and high-fives and youth angst- in those ways it truly delivers. The second half of the album couldn't get any more perfect. 9/10

[@theneedledrop]

thanks. i'm trying to be more straight and to the point with my reviews lately. i'll leave the longer and more track-oriented reviews for when i feel they're entirely necessary.

[@theneedledrop]

thinking about it...maybe.

[@julieandthebelangkas]

You’re right. I know this is an old album but I was listening to it again and I feel like you summarised exactly what I feel about Japandroids. They’re so good at capturing youth and that fuck errbody feeling and also they’re just loud and all over the place and everything sort of sounds the same if you’ve just been introduced to them. I do however have a soft spot for the last track ‘Continuous Thunder’.

[@theneedledrop]

possibly.

[@theneedledrop]

you do?

[@theneedledrop]

in two days? it's dropping offically thursday?

[@theneedledrop]

the protomen have a new LP?

[@theneedledrop]

yeah, it kind of is. the band hasn't really progressed their sound, but it's clearly intentional that they wanna stick to the script. i mean, just look at the two album covers.

[@Arian545]

I really loved this album, one of my favourite of 2012, this was at least a 8/10 for me

[@theneedledrop]

i'll check it out, but it would be tough to review since it's 2011.

[@theneedledrop]

they have a new jam?

[@theneedledrop]

will do

[@mefas2325]

keep yapping, man

[@theneedledrop]

coincidence? hahah. i'd say. for me, fucked up is on the flip side of things. their last LP definitely felt way more overblown to me. i guess i could have used more variation in the vox, tho.

[@theneedledrop]

i need to directly quote the lyrics to tell you they're good, impassioned, and centered around certain themes? do i need to grab a guitar and replay exactly what i'm hearing on the record in order to tell you a guitar solo or chord progression is good, too? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[@featherycoffee1401]

Anthony were you okay when writing this ?

[@douglasdougingson9541]

'The House that Heaven built' is a good track. right guys?... guys?

[@theneedledrop]

yes! where can i redeem these points?

[@theneedledrop]

who is playing ODB?

[@stereodumpling]

Anthony I really like your shorter reviews; I understand where you are coming from best when your reviews are compact and succinct like this one. Great job man.

[@theneedledrop]

they do! that's how the album hit me at first. if i did a review based off a first reaction, i probably would have written a positive review. i just sorta got bored with the album really quickly, though. :-S

[@MarchingBananaTV]

that comment was poetry and perfectly captures everything i feel about this album and review. good work agolden847 and good work mr needle drop man

[@theneedledrop]

yeah, pretty much in agreement. :-S seems a lotta people are mad at the review, though. oh boy.

[@theneedledrop]

i'll look it up.

[@theneedledrop]

yeah...

[@theneedledrop]

in regards to ice age, they bring that musical intensity, noise, and unique sounds that japandroids lack. is their music sloppy on the same level as japandroids? i'd actually say its even sloppier due to the tension and noisiness the band tries to present on the album new brigade. however, you're neglecting to mention that the SOUND of this album and the songwriting of Celebration Rock also underwhelm me, and ice age is way stronger in those departments, in my opinion.

[@theneedledrop]

lol, the one in the last video?

[@theneedledrop]

one day.

[@theneedledrop]

do i think wire lacks flashy musicianship like japandroids? yes. but doesn't wire head down an intentionally simple and minimal path. i wouldn't exactly call japandroids' music minimal and overly simplified on the same level as wire's. wire intentionally broke its songs down to the most basic of rock elements, even bringing the energy level down to the point where the band's early work felt somewhat mechanical. it created a unique, endearing aesthetic that japandroids doesn't really have.

[@nstvotvzoso1]

Yes Melvins! So great and Anthony thanks for the black moon suggestion on your 5 debut album vid. What a great hip hop album.

[@theneedledrop]

in a way, i guess you're right, but it's not really that bludgeoning. it's more like being smacked with a journal.

[@theneedledrop]

check out bata on soundway records. you might dig it.

[@laxbilly1]

dude youre seriously awesome, i always check your videos before buying cds, thanks and keep up the great reviews

[@theneedledrop]

well, yeah.

[@cyoungner1a2n]

Thanks for your reply Anthony! Loved it on the first listen while at work, but would probably go with a 7/10 now. Younger Us and The House That Heaven Built will be up there for my favorite songs for this year. Those lyrics "It's a lifeless life with no fixed address to give, You're not mind to die for anymore, So I must live" from House that Heaven Built are just beautiful. Love the switch from this angst to something positive, perfectly sums up what I think they were going for on this record.

[@theneedledrop]

thanks for your input, man. happy you like it more than me, and you have a grip for my taste, hah! :-)

[@theneedledrop]

it's a mystery.

[@theneedledrop]

we all do.

[@theneedledrop]

thx.

[@theneedledrop]

thinking about it. :-)

[@TheHolyFlipsterTHF]

Damn, people are still flaming you from videos you dropped 5 years ago lmaoo

[@HandsOfCinderblock]

TheHolyFlipster They take it so personal. I love how they try to objectively analyze the "wrongness" of the review.

[@theneedledrop]

then you do it.

[@theneedledrop]

look, i LIKE the feels, man. the feels are really good, and this album is all about feels, however, i feel like i need more than feels to like an album, ya know? feels is just one slice of the pie. you need more than feels, in my opinion.

[@zackzallie8735]

can i feel ya bald head?

[@Raotev]

@@zackzallie8735 dropped a banger roast 10 years later 💀

[@theneedledrop]

congrats, man! :-)

[@theneedledrop]

i hope the feels help you out, sir.

[@theneedledrop]

no the rad was the best part. there was emotional rad, but not musical rad. that's all. my opinion.

[@theneedledrop]

i'm not saying the band is completely unoriginal. i said they stick out thanks to their ability to channel these feelings. i'm just saying that musically there's not too much going on here that feels memorable to me. yes, these guys have energy / emotions, but they're not even that spectacular to me, i guess. as far as comparable contemporaries, i think a band like titus andronicus brings the same righteous emotions, but has way more songwriting ability, personality, sound, and detail.

[@theneedledrop]

a bit old, don't you think? :-S

[@TeggDougland]

Maybe because i am a teenager on the verge of graduating high school but this is my favorite album of the year so far. It's aggressively happy, it gets me pumped up and moving while making me feel warm, and fuzzy inside

[@theneedledrop]

lol, why?

[@nmccartaz]

Excellent edits in every review. Unmatched.

[@lucascgc]

Anthony, I have been reading reviews for this album since it leaked and all I read made me feel like "I'm not getting something right, because it's just not THAT good". Yours' the first one that made me say "c'mon, it's not THAT bad!" You should be proud!

[@theneedledrop]

move the goal posts where? i'm just talking about what i do and don't enjoy. does this album feel memorable to me? no. are the chord progressions or the melodies that interesting? no. are the sounds and noises these guys are making with the guitars that interesting to me? no. don't make a mountain out of molehill here, dude. you're telling me that to dislike this album's lacking of distinct sounds and personality is to dislike minor threat, bad brains, crass, and the damned? yeah right.

[@DJtelekinesis]

@theneedledrop Same kind of unwanted-consistency-masked-by-fuck-yeah-we're-punks found on Fucked Up's David Comes to Life, perhaps? Coincidence that they're both Canadian? (I actually enjoyed both immensely myself, but there are times when the volume knob being at 11 distracts me from any need to change gears.)

[@theneedledrop]

THANKS! :-)

[@theneedledrop]

vangelis' chariots of fire.

[@Gabiyoh]

i really liked it for the same reasons as you, but i didnt find the negatives to be quite so.. idk, obvious? maybe the more i listen to it, the more i'll notice the things you were talking about, but for now i just think it's a great summer album that i will be revisiting many times until about september.. after that, we'll see haha

[@theneedledrop]

i agree the 2nd half gets better, and i agree about the hi-fives and all that, but i just don't find the music that interesting. sorry, man. :-S

[@jeremologyy]

hope you review Tallest Man next week. and Metric - i actually am really liking their new record.

[@theneedledrop]

pretty bold statement coming from a whiny comment.

[@Zvox]

As a huge Fantano fan, I can honestly say that no, he's not 'messing with my taste' beyond introducing me to things I might not have otherwise heard. I listen to everything he reviews, even the ones he gives somewhat poor reviews to (like this one) and often strongly disagree with his reaction to certain albums (like this one).

[@theneedledrop]

yeah, it's likable.

[@ftr2216]

I absolutely love this album but the crux for me was realizing how unbelievably front-heavy it is. Everything after Fire's Highway suffers from the ailment of not being Fire's Highway.

[@robertmorris8499]

+ftr2216 I couldn't agree with you less. The three biggest (most commercially successful songs)from this album, are the last three (younger us, the house that heaven built, and Continuous thunder).

[@trivet1989]

Good review, I can relate to everything that's been said. Not sure if my comment won't be burried under hundreds of other requests but I would really like to hear what do you think about PYRAMIDAL - DAWN IN SPACE. It's an alubm from 2011 from a poorly known spanish band which brings everything that I love within space/psych rock genre.

[@alpha_omega10000]

You really nailed this review, I had a very similar train of thought on this album.

[@drifter1818]

Yeah, it's a live album from a night when they did all Queen covers

[@MrWallow7]

I've gotta say Anthony, your new blue shirt is really cool.

[@MrChrisWIsTall]

I love the sound of Japandroids, even though the sounds can be boring to some people at times I just love it. Now that i am graduating High School in a couple of weeks listening to this album is just somehow bringing me back to all of the good times I had. An album that has the effect on me is quite powerful.

[@Zegeebwah]

To be honest it's alright but I'd like to hear what you think. It's got some jazziness in it that's pretty cool.

[@YDG97]

my hip 42 year old history teacher told me the other morning how awesome this album was, amd ironically 30 minutes ago I thought to myself "it would be cool if TND reviewed this". strangely enough, he has!

[@Zvox]

I feel like this might be Fantano's introduction to Japandroids. This was my exact reaction to Post-Nothing when I first heard it last summer. It gave off great vibes that I loved, but overall, felt somewhat disinterested. I wound up giving them another shot while walking home at 2am super drunk before I 'got it'. You don't listen to them to feel like you're experiencing art, you listen to them to get fucking stoked. 'Celebration Rock' couldn't be a more perfect album title.

[@nfrizzle]

Sorry it's not tech metal bro. Not all music has to have lots of contrast and dynamic. Take Bob Dylan for example. Excellent song writer and musician. His songs by the standards set in this review would be "bland". The fact is that Japandroids have created a wonderful feeling. THey have captured the essence of what it is to be young in this generation. For that I give it a solid 9/10

[@theneedledrop]

i hope you like it more than me, hehe.

[@Pestilentich]

Thank you for saying where they are from and not just Canada. Sincerely, a Canadian.

[@JakeWearsJeans94]

I listened Post-Nothing and Celebration Rock back to back and honestly this new album sounds like a continuation (the second LP if I may) of Post-Nothing. I didn't mind it really because I loved the energetic sound of theirs. I do want to give them another listen because I'm graduating high school this thursday and want to have these feels.

[@agolden847]

Thanks very much man, that's really nice of you to say!

[@guiitargirlx3]

Can you please review Life Will Write The Words by The Rocket Summer? It might be a nice change from the sort of thing you'd normally review.

[@babaganoujband]

Hm I agree with some points of this review, and I almost agree with the 'Woh-oh-oh' choruses being occasionally a bit muc, but man... I had never heard this band until the other day and I am liking it. It's evocative of Huskers (the guitar tone at times has that MXR Distortion+ though JC120 sound which rules) and the like 'WE CAN DO IT' vibe of a band like Gaslight Anthem or something.

[@maalbe987]

I wouldn't say there's no change at all. Stylistically there's not too much difference but Celebration Rock isn't as lo-fi so the instruments are a lot clearer, which is a pretty big upside. Plus the songs are energetic & catchy as always.

[@bobdoerr9536]

Continuous Thunder is an utterly incredible and under rated song. Not everything has to be complex to be good. This album ruled.

[@28604]

I quite liked this one. The instrumentals are basic, but I like that. As far as lyrics, I mostly agree with Anthony. To say it in "Fantano Terms," I give this album a strong 6 to a light (or maybe mid) 7.

[@theneedledrop]

LOLOLOLOL. evidence. ah. *sigh* dude, it's subjective. one person could see the lyrics as x. another could see them as y. quote or no quote. i'm just saying my piece.

[@heyheyodelay]

Would love to know what you think of Teen Daze's new album "All Of Us, Together".

[@suburbanlight1]

I appreciate you're skills in articulating your opinion though even if i'm not so sure why you find mechanichal music more endearing than what Japandroids have to offer ;)

[@DJCJ2433]

HEY ANTHONY HEY ANTHONY HEY ANTHONY what do you think about it in comparison to Post-Nothing?

[@DandHgoogoo]

Hey Anthony, hope you're having a great day. Maybe consider reviewing that new Tallest Man. Forerrverrr

[@ofarevolution441]

agreed that Younger Us and House That Heaven Built are the two best. Adrenaline Nightshift's a solid track too, but the first half of this album's just not that exciting or engaging.

[@Skygooose]

Dude, thank you, some people have been praising this way too much. I like a couple of songs on this album a lot, but they all sound pretty much the same. If they had more variety, I think this would be a great summer time album, but they just did too much of the same start to finish.

[@a1rhendr1x]

Totally agree with the review. Although, I think the energy went a little further for me, so I'd probably raise the score to a strong 6... That's not to say I don't enjoy listening to it. I've probably played it a half dozen times front to back. After the first few listens, though, it was pretty clear that there wasn't much under the surface to latch onto. Nothing left to discover. No surprises. I think I'll still pull this out from time to time, but only when I need a quick energy fix.

[@MercuryClock]

Thank you. This album is really overhyped if you ask me. The songs themselves aren't *terrible* but there's really a lack of variety. It really took a while to enjoy it at all because the first two tracks kept making me think, "yeah, it's fun music, but I thought this was supposed to be a noise rock album." The only track that really stood out to me was For the Love of Ivy (which I just found out is a cover). Evil's Sway is a very good song though, imo.

[@KasperButNotAGhost]

ahh its not out in the US til then!? Bummer. You listened to it?

[@doodlesbykeems]

You're commenting on other people's comments so I wanted to jump in on the fun.

[@fernfernisfernie]

I love Japandroids, but I would recommend 'Post Nothings' the first album to anyone who wants to check em out for the first time. I prefer the first album to the second.

[@theneedledrop]

GOOD!

[@TheTrainFace]

Hey Anthony, have you heard of the band 'Tetrafusion' before? if so, it'd be cool to know your opinion on them.