Indie Shuffle » garage

The Like – Release Me

Taylor Fife — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:33:50 +0000

Click image to download full album

Sounds like: The Standells, The Donnas

What's so good?

Having lived in the Bay Area for a few years now I’ve heard my share of hate on L.A. Angelinos shrug off any criticisms with arrogant nonchalance and notify steaming San Franciscans that the supposed north-south rivalry is little more than sunshine envy. I intentionally stay out of these squabbles and note that many of my favorite artists are based in the Southland. But I may have recently crossed some kind of Norcal threshold, because after listening to ‘Release Me’ by all-girl rock group The Like, my immediate critique is that the whole package is way too L.A.

Typically one hears gripes about Los Angeles being “fake.” I’ve had trouble with that assertion, though. I don’t think all things L.A. are generally insincere or inauthentic; they’re just a little more sparkly, plastic, and manicured. American Apparel is a great all-image-no-substance example of what L.A. is all about. American Apparel and those who wear it have no qualms with being all image—clothing is made to be looked at, after all. And Ke$ha, Los Angeles’s newest pop creation, is the same. Nobody’s trying to sell you on the depth of her work (except, rather remarkably, maybe the New York Times), but isn’t the music damn sexy and a boatload of fun?

So what’s wrong with The Like being too L.A.? Well, on the surface, nothing; it’s really pretty hard to frown at a super-cute all-girl quartet with an adorable and hip mod look. Throw in a sunny 60’s garage pop sound full of handclaps and lyrics on boy problems and you’ve got a sure-fire hit. Trust fund hipster Mark Ronson and Sharon Jones helped create the new sound on ‘Release Me,’ a considerable departure from the overproduced sugary alternative pop from their first album. The Like has made other changes since their last album as well. They dropped one member and added two, but the core group still consists of daughters of well-connected Los Angeles music industry insiders. Drummer Tennessee Thomas is the daughter of Pete Thomas, longtime Elvis Costello drummer, and Elizabeth Berg is the daughter of producer and record executive Tony Berg. Since their debut the band has also switched labels, moving from Geffen, where Berg worked, to super cool Downtown.

Whether any of this is problematic or should keep you from enjoying the admittedly catchy pop rock the girls are making is wide open for debate. The manufactured, ready-for-consumption look and sound of the group isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but this band seems less up front about the process than one would expect from the next week’s top 40 flash in the pan. The most infuriating maxim to outsiders trying to break into L.A.’s entertainment industry is that everything depends on who you know. This clearly isn’t a problem for The Like, who quite obviously owe all their success to their personal connections.

If you’re from Southern California, nothing I’ve said in this post will sound like criticism. After all, according you folks, I’m just jealous, and you know what, you’re probably right. If you’re from anywhere else, don’t let me dissuade you too much from at least giving this band a shot. If you’d like to see them live, The Like will be playing in San Francisco on September 28^th at The Rickshaw with local group The Myonics.

Elsewhere on the web:

myspace | myspace.com/thelike

Best Friends Forever – Romance Conflict Adventure

Kathlee Cleveland — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:38:08 +0000

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Sounds like: Girls From the Clouds, Kimya Dawson, Watercolor Paintings, All Girl Summer Fun Band

"Best Friends Forever - Tape Song"

What's so good?

There’s only three people I’ve ever wanted to trade bodies with. One is Bruce Willis’ French girlfriend from Pulp Fiction, the other two are Jessica Lee Seaman and Briana Jennifer Smith from Best Friends Forever. The first time I heard their music was two years ago when a guy I was crushing on told me he was sure that he could never love anyone else besides them. I totally understood why, then felt like crying.

The band formed in Minneapolis, where the two girls met, in fifth grade. This comes to no surprise, because their music is just as embarrassingly self-conscious, genuine, and awkward. They will tell you about their unshaved legs, the cold, hard truth about long-distance relationships, and about Abe Lincoln making a kinda hot boyfriend, and you will like it because you’ll think, “YES! I THINK THAT ALL THE TIME!” At the same time, the duo has a punk core that will resonate with less fuzzy friends.

Through squeaky vocals and clanging guitar riffs, the songs, while sweet, maintain a sarcastic sneer. My favorite song is called “Tape Song,” an easily distributable melody to anyone who has come too close too soon. The chorus states blatantly, “The further away, the fuzzier your face, the harder to make out your less desirable traits. When I’m looking at your through a telescopic lens, it’s easier to use my imagination.” Ouch. Another tried and true fave is “Backpocket,” which will transport you right back to the awkward moment where your hand and her butt first touched, complete with chimes and fuzzy guitar.

In addition to the charmingly accessible lyrics, BFF relishes in camaraderie with audience members and the feeling of sing-along rather than individualism. All of their songs are grungy, raw, and easy to sing to, often with a choir of background singers. I think it gives the entire album a warmth that is often missing from rock (and punk rock, if you can consider this punk). Every song weaves a new story, with sharp wit and cunning sarcasm, and if you don’t fall in love with these two by the end of the album, well… you have no soul.

Elsewhere on the web:

myspace | myspace.com/bestfriendsforeverandfriends

Bare Wires – Seeking Love

Taylor Fife — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 23:02:33 +0000

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Sounds like: Ty Segall, Jay Reatard, Thee Oh Sees

"Bare Wires - Romantic Girl"

What's so good?

Matthew Melton has been rocking out in the East Bay with Bare Wires for some time now, but their latest, Seeking Love, is the first polished product that displays the energy and vigor of the project in a tidy package. This album retains the hard rocking 70’s inspired garage punk of previous efforts, but has more than a few notable differences. The one I appreciate the most was that I was able to get this album on CD. I guess it was pretty cute that I could only find earlier work on cassette or vinyl, but for a guy that listens to music primarily on his computer, I felt the novelty wasn’t quite worth inconvenience. The other obvious cosmetic difference is the lineup changes, but while the bass and percussion do keep things together well, the nut of band is Melton’s retro punk guitar and melodiously distorted vocals.

The most important difference between then and now is more subtle; the music is on the whole easier to digest. The sounds are nice and distorted, but instead of making the album more difficult to listen to, it somehow makes all the parts fit together. Songs are short and forceful, but also interesting and vibrant. The melodies are pleasantly poppy, with early punk groups like The Ramones and The Stooges likely strong influences. Most impressive is the excellent job Melton does making the vocals fit great with both lyrics primarily focused on the opposite sex and high energy garage rock. Throughout the album Bare Wires sticks to what they know best and don’t stray too far from their established formula. But as the album lasts just over 20 minutes, any branching out would probably just give them an ADD diagnosis on top of the already certified hyperactivity. Catch these boys at one of their shows in the Bay Area in July before they head out to conquer the nation in August and September.

Elsewhere on the web:

myspace | myspace.com/thebarewires

The Hot Toddies – Get Your Heart On

Taylor Fife — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:22:59 +0000

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Sounds like: The Splinters, The Blow

"The Hot Toddies - "

What's so good?

I totally have a crush on The Hot Toddies. I’m sorry if this in any way contributes to rampant sexism in popular music, but since the group titled their latest album ‘Get Your Heart On,’ I’m going to assume this album is an attempt to make me fall in love with them.

The 2^nd album from this all-girl group from Oakland is sugary sweet pop deliciousness that is so darn adorable and catchy it’s impossible to resist. The basis of the saccharine sounds on the album is basic power chords and simple rhymes. Add some handclaps, charming backup vocals, a little synthesizer and voila, you have a delightful pop album that’s just too darn cute to call rock, but not quite self-indulgent enough to call twee.

If just the sound of the music isn’t enough to start crushing on these girls, you’ll definitely start getting your heart on when you hear their confessions on love and what they want from guys. With lyrical earnestness on par with The Blow, this album is a must for any boy trying to figure out what in the world might be going on in the brain of the opposite sex. This self-styled “whiskey inspired” sound doesn’t break any new ground, but does cover bases ranging from surf, to doo-wop, and garage in their coastal pop adventure. If you live on the west coast this should be an easy band to catch live for cheap during the summer.

Elsewhere on the web:

myspace | myspace.com/thehottoddies

Ty Segall – Melted

Taylor Fife — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:35:13 +0000

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Sounds like: Sic Alps, Thee Oh Sees, Bare Wires

"Ty Segall - Caesar"

What's so good?

Ty Segall’s been stomping about San Francisco playing straightforward garage rock in the vein of local favorites Thee Oh Sees and Sic Alps for a hot minute now, so the retro lo-fi sound on his latest shouldn’t be a shocker. On Melted, Ty delivers 30 minutes of short, snappy fuzzed out songs perfect for a bedroom rock-out sesh. Some tracks are quirky pop tunes, while others get lost in reverb and effects and lack structure. Somehow, Ty makes it all work out on this release from Goner. Before he started playing with his current band, Ty was known for his energetic one man band performances. He’ll be doing a solo throwback performance in San Francisco on Thursday July 15^th at Milk Bar. Weekend is headlining the $5 show on Haight; check out epicsauce.com for more details.

Elsewhere on the web:

myspace | myspace.com/tysegall

A B & The Sea – Bone Dry

Taylor Fife — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:44:37 +0000

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Sounds like: Beach Boys, Girls, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear

"A B & The Sea - Bone Dry"

What's so good?

When Koley O’Brien and Joe Spargur left their hometown behind and took off for San Francisco in 2008, they probably had no idea the Bay Area was on its way to being the focal point of a jangly doo-wop renaissance. Since the core members of A B & The Sea arrived in the Golden State, Oakland groups Hunx and his Punx and Shannon and the Clams delivered stellar retro garage pop releases while the San Francisco outfit Girls received national attention for their 60’s inspired indie rock.

A B & The Sea take Beach Boys (or is it Animal Collective?) inspired melodies, add a dash of indie rock sensibility borrowed from Grizzly Bear, mix it together in the San Francisco summer sun, and end up with a handful of delightfully irresistible pop masterpieces. While King Khan and Mark Sultan may have been doing the doo-wop thing longer, it looks like San Francisco may have stolen this scene away from Montreal. And speaking of Montreal, A B & The Sea’s vocal phrasing, melodies, and unrepentant pop attitude are heavily reminiscent of and clearly draw from Kevin Barnes and his Athens, Georgia collective.

So what’s even better than an awesome new local group playing music that will immediately have you Googling the lyrics so you can sing along while you dance your heart out? Well, when they give away their music for free. Check out their MySpace and Facebook for details and to find out when they’ll be playing in your neighborhood this summer.

Bonus Track: A B & The Sea – Yellow Haired Girl

Elsewhere on the web:

myspace | myspace.com/abthesea

The Booze – Rebirth of the Cool

b aiken — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:58:59 +0000

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Sounds like: Strange Boys, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Band of Skulls

"The Booze - Hate City Lights"

What's so good?

The garage rock resurgence, forefronted most popularly by The White Stripes, has permeated indie rock and doesn’t seem to be drying up any time soon. The Booze represent the more folk/blues/southern rock side of the movement, combining a number of tracks ranging from upbeat to a bit sullen. This is displayed right off the bat, with the first two tracks spanning the musical thrust of the entire album. That isn’t to say, however, that you should stop listening after those two tunes. ”Rebirth of the Cool” continues on melodically and keeps the listener’s attention throughout.

As mentioned, this is pretty standard southern-tinged garage rock, which makes sense, I think, considering the band hails from Georgia. It’s certainly an easy listen, much of it recalling the sound of The Rolling Stones. Nostalgic? I don’t know; I’m not a baby-boomer. But, given the litany of rock from the 60′s and 70′s forced (comfortably) upon me by my loving hippie parents, it definitely conjures up a reminiscence to this musical era.

There isn’t much more I can say about this album or this band. Its not a big band, big sound, nor does it leave a big impression. But, and thats a big but, I’m recommending it. It just sounds right. Its not forced and doesn’t give the impression they’re trying too hard to simply replicate the sound of bands past. It’s not groundbreaking but it doesn’t need to be. That’s why I like it. A great summer album, pick it up, take a listen, and enjoy.

Elsewhere on the web:

myspace | myspace.com/thebooze

The Splinters – Kick

Taylor Fife — Mon, 03 May 2010 04:20:17 +0000

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Sounds like: The Ramones, Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney, Le Tigre

What’s so good?
After listening to The Splinters it’s difficult not to immediately rush to comparisons with Riot Grrrl acts like Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, or Le Tigre. And while this East Bay group is composed of four energetic ladies rocking out, the comparisons probably ought to stop there. The Splinters remind me more of The Ramones than anything else—the music is stripped down and easy to play, with sincere and uncomplicated sing-along lyrics. While there are occasional flashes of anger—in the song ‘Oranges’ the girls sing “Why don’t you just fuck off” in unison—the music is at its core happy and fun.

I hesitate to describe what The Splinters play as punk—it’s just too darn cute to really be anything but pop music. But it’s pop music at its very most earnest, like a Kimya Dawson with jangly guitars and the unremitting clamor of a tambourine.

The lyrics are definitely girly, but there’s no overt third-wave feminism message or Powder Puff Girl pride in the vagina. Of course, it’s likely because of those 90’s girl groups that The Splinters feel more or less comfortable playing rock and roll in what’s still largely, and unfortunately, a man’s world.

Word has it that Oakland will be losing these UC Berkeley graduates soon as they journey to the Big Apple to make it in the world. I wish them the best, but their music, attitude, and aesthetic is so perfectly Left Coast, laid back, rocker girl, that I’m unsure how well it’ll fit in the Holy Land of indie rock (or overhyped cesspool of indie rock, depending on how you look at it) out in Alphabet City. Kick was released last month on Bay Area record label Double Negative and are playing soon at a venue near you (assuming you live in San Francisco).

Elsewhere on the Web:
myspace | myspace.com/thesplintersband

The Strange Boys – Be Brave

b aiken — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:21:36 +0000

Click image to download full album

Sounds like: Ty Segall, Black Lips, Bob Dylan

What’s so good?
Have you ever wondered what The White Stripes would sound like if Jack had been born in 1945, started the band in 1963, and sang with the voice of a young Bob Dylan? Well, me neither, but if you were, this album from The Strange Boys would give you a pretty damn good idea. The decidedly lo-fi, bluesy, folk inspired and just plain awesome sound harks back to a homespun time of synthless choruses and voices unspoiled by autotunes. Ryan Sambol (Guitar, Vocals) has an heir of folk storyteller, and straight forward but well played instrumentals provide an excellent backsplash for his raspy delivery.

“Be Brave” clocks in at around 32 minutes, so please don’t worry about investing too much of your precious time away from the modern musical comforts of electro-pop, but do take a close listen and revel in the simplicity, and even (gasp) a few acoustic melodies. The Strange Boys may be just one just one of many bands still nurturing the musical seeds sowed during the early days of rock and roll, but they do it with class and what appears to me to be a real respect for the pioneers of their craft. So please, check this out; I promise you won’t end up pissing on that totally rad Miike Snow remix bootleg you bought from the hipster at the record co-op downtown.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/thestrangeboys

Left Lane Cruiser – All You Can Eat!

el gringo rico — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:12:12 +0000

Click image to download full album

Sounds like: The Black Keys, R.L. Burnside, Black Diamond Heavies

What’s so good?
Grab your whiskey and get ready to rage. I’ve never heard a more powerful and gritty blues rock duo than these guys. Left Lane Cruiser is a two man outfit out of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. They’re a couple of thrashers that can play the hell out of some punkesque garage blues. Think along the lines of a possessed Black Keys, Jack White without his cute peppermint outfits, or even ole’ R.L. Burnside fresh off divorcing his sixth wife and a four day bender. These guys don’t F around. Brenn “Sausage Paw” Beck plays the ever lovin’ shit out of some drums (no joke, dude broke his hand 5 songs into a set a couple years back) while Freddy J IV tears you apart with insane licks off the slide. I dare you to try and listen to these guys and not immediately want to stay up all night slamming shots of Old Crow.

Been listenin’ to these fellas for a few months now and regret nothing. Definitely check out their older albums too: “Bring Yo’ Ass to the Table” and “Gettin’ Down On It.” Both contain equal amounts of energy and are phenomenal in their own right.

Somewhere there’s a world where Left Lane Cruiser is blasting out of every ’72 Chevy Nova and broke-ass VW van, the road a bleared smudge in the rear view mirror. Drums that burn down bridges full of oil and fire, a guitar fucked into submission with god shining his face across six strings of hillstomptrash skull-fuckery. Above it all a voice all cracker-ass kick and wail…”feed me, baby, and I’m yours.” It’s filthy Delta swamp debris, washed ashore and hitchhiking it’s way to the heart of last night’s ramble. – Big Rock Candy Mountain

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/leftlanecruiser

The Black Belles – What Can I Do?

b aiken — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:54:50 +0000

Click image to download the single

Sounds like:The White Stripes

What’s so good?
I stumbled upon this quartet of lady rockers on MySpace, and after about 20 seconds of listening I knew that what they were producing was some legit-ass, bluesy, Jack White sounding stuff. Another 30 seconds was all it took to scroll down an inch or so and see that this was indeed something Jack White had his hands in, having discovered the Belles and bringing them into Third Man for some recording, and perhaps some extracurricular activities. I wont jump to any conclusions just yet.

This might sound a little too much like the Stripes for some, but I for one can’t get enough of the simple kick drum smashing backed by some textured electro-organ, crunchy guitar, and female vocals. I can’t say too much more regarding this sound or album, because a) its just a two-track single, and b) this damn band is an enigma. The mighty internets can’t even come up with any information, other than a black and white photo and a sketchy MySpace page. If I had to bet the house though, Mr. White will make sure the ladies come out with a vengeance, and hopefully at least an LP we can sink our ear-teeth into sooner than later. For now, take a listen to the title track from the single, and enjoy something you can stomp your foot to.
Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/blackbelles

Real Estate – Real Estate

Jason Grishkoff — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:10:16 +0000

Click here to download full album

This review was posted by guest contributor Peter Lanceley on This Music Wins, which you can visit to discover much more new music.

Sounds like: Surfer Blood, Girls, Best Coast, Ganglians

What’s so good?
I’ve been meaning to post something for weeks and weeks about Brooklyn band Real Estate, another pioneering group in the increasingly popular psychedelic surf pop movement which I’ve been heavily overindulging myself in recently. In the same vein as all my blog favourites such as Surfer Blood, Girls and Best Coast – Real Estate make snippets of 60s pop psychedelia coated in fuzzy reverb and drenched in sunny harmonies. The difference between this band and the others is the total chillout mentality they show across their entire self-titled debut album, leading to a whole load of comparisons to the other chillwave bands of late.

Unlike their synth laden companions such as Toro y Moi, Washed Out and Neon Indian they make chill out surfer pop music with more of a classic rock influence than one from electronica. Again, another feature sets them apart from bands like Surfer Blood and Woods is the fact that they coat their meaningful and heartfelt lyrics in meaningful and heartfelt music. As with most of the albums I’ve been posting about recently, this is another one for your Sunday morning collection.

Real Estate is bassy and slow-paced with occasional bursts of energy across the ten-track Woodsist Records release. The spaced out vocals of Martin Courtney don’t feature heavily – and when they do, its more the notes they hold than the lyrics they deliver. It’s not shoegaze, but at times the lyrics make more of a background appearance in relation to the simple melodies than a dominant one.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/realestate

The Feelies – Crazy Rhythms

Jason Grishkoff — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:11:27 +0000

Click image to download full album

Sounds like: Byrds, The Velvet Underground, The Talking Heads, Yo La Tengo

What’s so good?
Sure, this album was first released in 1980, but it was just re-issued by Bar/None Records, so I don’t feel I’m stepping out of line by bringing it to your attention. When The Feelies came to manhattan in the late 70s (from somewhere in the suburbs of New Jersey), they brought a jangly upbeat new-wave punk that sounded fresh. Pretty soon their uber-nerd look had enraptured the hearts and minds of many upcoming artists, from R.E.M to Weezer (see the Blue Album cover). Their album, however, flopped.

While the pure, raw sound of this music gets me interested, it’s the percussion that really draws me in. Pitchfork puts it quite well:

The focus and direction of the sound hangs on Mercer and Million’s guitars, but the essence of the album– the DNA sequence not found anywhere else– is its percussion tracks. Cymbals and hi-hats are ignored almost entirely– too cathartic, too showy. Almost every track is overdubbed with a dry chorus of cowbells, claves, woodblocks, bells and maracas. Glenn Mercer’s credit on a cover of the Beatles’ “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey” reads: “other guitar, vocals, bell, coat rack.” Drummer Anton Fier thumps out the words NOT TIRED YET NOT TIRED YET NOT TIRED YET in Morse code on his tom-toms. Presumably, shows ended with the rest of the band unplugging him – pitchfork

The simple formulas featured in Crazy Rhythms proved to be The Feelies’ lasting legacy. It took them six years to produce their follow-up album, Good Earth, which was, by comparison, considerably more folksy. Gone were the jangle, the percussion, the two-chord repetition. Gone was any hope of breaking into the main-stream. Two more attempts and little success later, the band disbanded in 1992.

The 2009 bar/none re-issue features remastered originals, as well as a cover of The Beatles’ “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide”. I haven’t a clue what inspired bar/none to bring The Feelies back out of hiding, but i’ve gotta hand it to them: this album fits perfectly in today’s modern (and oft-nostalgic for the 80s) indie scene.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | http://www.myspace.com/domakesaythink
pitchfork feelies review | http://www.pitchfork.com//
the big takeover review | http://www.bigtakeover.com/
paste magazine review | http://www.pastemagazine.com/

Magneta Lane – Gambling with God

Jason Grishkoff — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:49:05 +0000

click image to view in itunes

Sounds like: Flakes, Metric

What’s so good?
A trio of attractive girls! What more could you want? How about a trio of attractive girls playing some kick-ass music? Meet Magneta Lane. Hailing from Toronto, Lexi Valentine (vocals, guitar), French (bass), and Nadia King (drums) have stuck it out since getting together in 2003 for this, their second full-length album. Reminiscent of their much-more-famous counterparts, Metric, these three have worked together to produce a powerful, raw and emotional album.

I can’t say much more. Reviews of Magneta Lane and their album Gambling with God are scarce on the internet–perhaps I’m the first to cover this album? Regardless, I’ll let the song speak for itself on this one. Enjoy!

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | http://www.myspace.com/kissingiseasy

download:
magneta lane – lady bones.mp3

Screaming Females – Power Move

camden andrews — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:47:45 +0000

Click image to download full album

Sounds like: The Dead Weather, The Ergs!, The White Stripes

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What’s so good?
I won’t lie: I wasn’t a big fan of this album. but i’m still compelled to throw this up because i think people should know about this band. it may not translate on CD, but these guys have one of the most raw, powerful live sets i’ve seen in a long time.

I saw them open for “The Dead Weather” a few weeks ago, and they totally caught me off guard. Out comes this three piece led by a girl that looked like she could have been thirteen years old in a shabby pilgrim dress looking down at the ground. Then she opened her mouth. Marissa Paternoster may be the only true female in the band, but she lives up to the “Screaming Females” name. And man can she play the guitar. I don’t mean ‘oh, she can play guitar well for a girl;’ I mean this girl can fucking shred. And she thrashes around and slams to her knees as she wails. It was a sight to see, and didn’t feel forced or staged at all.

As punk music continues to evolve into something that looks more and more like whiney glam-rock, it was awesome to see a band play with the pure, genuine spirit and energy of punk rock untainted by a fashion or convention. “Screaming Females”, above all else, are themselves, and they absolutely rock.

Check out this cool “Screaming Females” documentary:

Japandroids – Post-Nothing

camden andrews — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:13:19 +0000

Click image to download full album

Sounds like: No Age, Cymbals Eat Guitars

What’s so good?
This is far from a musical masterpiece. Simple song-writing, cheesy lines, and fuzzed out sound. It’s essentially two guys cranking everything to eleven and rocking with reckless abandon. That’s kind of the genius behind this album though. It’s full of a pure cathartic angst coated in sweet pop innocence. This album is immediately catchy and infinitely fun, and it doesn’t require any sort of in-depth analysis. Everything is right on the table when the singer yells, “We used to dream, now we worry about dying” in “Young Hearts Spark Fire.” And the honest vulnerability is matched by fun-loving optimism when he returns “I don’t wanna worry about dying, I just wanna worry about sunshine girls.

The best part is that there isn’t a single moment on the album that feels fake or forced. Even live, these guys play with genuine conviction and raw emotion. Though corny at times with lines like “we’ll stay together forever, stay sick together, stay crazy forever,” this album is full of pure, raw emotion and never takes itself too seriously. The duo that is Japandroids are a refreshing reminder that sometimes, simplicity is a good thing.

“This is terminally catchy music played with punk’s enthusiasm and velocity, and maybe it’s the fact that there’s only two dudes in this band that makes you feel like joining in to bash along. It’s as fun as an ill-gotten sixpack and there really aren’t too many bands doing stuff like this well anymore.” – Pitchfork