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Japandroids: Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

by mr. hipster February 24, 2017
February 24, 2017
Near To The Wild Heart Of Life
84
Near To The Wild Heart Of Life
Genre: Indie Rock
Label: ANTI-
Release Year: 2017
Listen: Spotify / Apple Music

Japandroids have always toed the line between indie noise rock, rollicking anthemic arena rock and old-fashioned Springsteen Americana. Their music, regardless of its leanings, has always encouraged fist-pumping enthusiasm and general chaotic energy. Right out of the gates this album clearly embraces less of their brash noise and way more of that Boss aesthetic that has always been lurking in the brush. The lead single, the titular “Near To The Wild Heart of Life” is almost straight out of the Born in the USA playbook. It’s a life-affirming jaunt through sing-along choruses, melodic (but not too melodic) call to arms that is less than specific in terms of its positivity. The album continues on its remarkably Americana-ish bent (especially for a Canadian band) on the album’s second track, “North East South West,” which feels like it was ripped directly from the Titus Andronicus travelogue playbook, just subbing in their native Canada for Titus’ New Jersey (and with way less mention of eating disorders and personal mishigas).

The thing is, my love of Japandroids has mostly been based on their ability to sound completely out of control and completely in control at the same time. The nature of their song structure, insane drumming and crunching guitar have always driven their music more than the song-writing itself. I’ve always been aware more of the energy and the bravado than the actual song content. So when, on this record, they’ve dialed back a good deal of that insanity in favor of a more considered musicality, it threw me a bit. It’s made me try to consider them from a different angle and I’m not sure it’s a look I like on them as much as I did the old one. Granted, I understand these guys can’t just keep making the same record, but when they roll out a very Trail of Dead-like seven minute song like “Arc of Bar,” I have to consider them against the company they choose to keep. So in the case of a song like this — an almost proggy tune — I have to say they are a weak version of the Trail of Dead original. At only eight tracks, this thing could almost be considered an EP, but there is definitely a feeling of “I’ve heard this before” pervading the entire thing. I can’t quite place it, but I keep flashing to “On the Dark Side” by John Cafferty, or the more obvious connection with almost-heartland rock of The Hold Steady (but with way less story telling and charisma).

I seem to recall stories about Japandroids breaking up or almost breaking up prior to recording this album, so my assumption is that Brian King and David Prowse sat down and decided that maybe what they needed was not a split, but maybe a little bit of a new direction. Granted, this isn’t a break from their prior sound per se, but a refinement and amplification of the more subdued parts. Does that make for a great album? No, not really. Does it make for a totally listenable experience that is still better than most of the stuff I’m assaulted with on a regular basis? For sure. But, the thing is, when you’ve kind of hit the heights they have, expectations are a bitch.

2017Anti-Indie RockJapandroidsRock
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      Top Listens 2023

      January 1, 2024

      The Music List
      In Defense of: OMC’s “How Bizarre”

      July 18, 2021

      The Music List
      Top 25 Influential Rock Albums

      May 1, 2020

      The Music List
      In Defense Of: Ruben Studdard’s “Sorry 2004”

      December 29, 2019

      Concert Reviews
      The Get Up Kids @ Starland Ballroom

      February 27, 2025

      Concert Reviews
      The Dirty Nil @ White Eagle Hall

      January 26, 2025

      Concert Reviews
      The Beths @ White Eagle Hall

      September 26, 2024

      Concert Reviews
      Pearl Jam @ MSG

      September 9, 2024

      Concert Reviews
      Cloud Nothings @ (Le) Poisson Rouge

      May 15, 2024

      Concert Reviews
      Band of Horses @ The Wellmont Theater

      February 13, 2024

  • Movies
    • Movie Reviews
      A Complete Unknown

      July 31, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      Mickey 17

      July 22, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      Mountainhead

      July 4, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      Fountain of Youth

      June 24, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      A Different Man

      June 10, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      Problemista

      May 22, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      Flipside

      May 4, 2025

  • Books
    • Book Reviews
      Trust

      June 19, 2025

      Book Reviews
      Razorblade Tears

      May 24, 2025

      Book Reviews
      The Plot

      March 14, 2025

      Book Reviews
      Maximum Bob

      February 17, 2025

      Book Reviews
      The Sympathizer

      January 6, 2025

      Book Reviews
      The Zone of Interest

      July 12, 2024

      Book Reviews
      Klara and the Sun

      April 13, 2024

  • Podcasts
    • Podcast Reviews
      The Wedding Scammer

      March 1, 2025

      Podcast Reviews
      Search Engine

      November 27, 2024

      Podcast Reviews
      Hysterical

      August 30, 2024

      Podcast Reviews
      60 Songs That Explain the ’90s

      March 31, 2024

      Podcast Reviews
      Otherworld

      February 29, 2024

      Podcast Reviews
      Behind the Bastards

      February 13, 2024

      Podcast Reviews
      Time Crisis

      January 26, 2024

  • Booze & Grub
    • Booze & Grub ReviewsBooze & Grub: NYCBooze & Grub: NJThe NYC Booze & Grub GraveyardThe NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Booze & Grub Reviews
      Montclair Diner

      August 7, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews
      Coda Kitchen & Bar

      July 29, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews
      Sweet T’s Southern Eatery – Montclair

      July 24, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews
      Tinga Fresh Mexican & BBQ

      July 23, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews
      Falafel Hut

      July 12, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews
      McDonald’s (West Village)

      July 10, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      McDonald’s (West Village)

      July 10, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      CAVA – 350 Hudson

      June 19, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      Westville Hudson

      April 25, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      Five Guys – Midtown West

      January 25, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      Jaz Indian Cuisine

      December 23, 2024

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      Just Salad – Hudson Square

      November 13, 2024

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Montclair Diner

      August 7, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Coda Kitchen & Bar

      July 29, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Sweet T’s Southern Eatery – Montclair

      July 24, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Tinga Fresh Mexican & BBQ

      July 23, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Falafel Hut

      July 12, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Seoul Bistro

      July 4, 2025

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard: Gone Before Their…

      August 9, 2022

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      The Press Box Restaurant & Pub

      August 3, 2021

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Natureworks – Midtown

      May 6, 2021

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      The National Bar & Dining Rooms

      April 10, 2021

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Hillstone – Midtown

      March 5, 2021

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Connolly’s Pub & Restaurant – 5th Ave.

      February 12, 2021

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard: Gone Before Their…

      July 21, 2024

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Scala del Nonna

      February 15, 2023

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Diesel & Duke – Montclair

      January 30, 2023

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Maple Leaf Diner

      February 10, 2022

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza

      September 14, 2021

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Junior’s Cheesesteaks & Shakes

      December 21, 2020

  • Randomness
    • Travel Reviews
    • Video Game Reviews
    • Product Reviews
    • Odd Finds
    • Diary