Japandroids

Celebration Rock (Polyvinyl)

Vancouver anthem punks Japandroids got started hollering about French-kissing some French girls. On sophomore effort Celebration Rock, they’re still “yelling like hell to the heavens.” Brian King and David Prowse are old enough for prudence, but they heartily crank those erstwhile years when teenaged bullshit made all the sense in the world. Armed with molten guitars and rocketship drums, these two crank earth-shattering hooks, squeezing tears and bloody fist pumps out of heaven’s mosh pit. “It’s a lifeless life with no fixed address to give! But you’re not mine to die for anymore, so I must live,” announces King on “The House That Heaven Built.” What gorgeously intact high school poetry, and how honest, arrogant, stupid, and faithful to share it. Japandroids is bloated, angry, and absolute proof that the heart of rock & roll is still beating. (Sun., Black stage, 4:20pm)

***.5

This article appears in November 2 • 2012.

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