Within the past few years the garage rock/punk genre has gone into the realm of highly distorted guitars which drown out the vocals. Mostly made up of no more than three members, these groups utilize this extremely fuzzed-out sound to give the impression that there is total chaos occurring during these songs. Some bands make it work (No Age) while others are simply making substance-less shit (Vivian Girls). Well, still in this mold of fuzz-guitar-rock-thing, the duo known as Japandroids have recently released an album that is drenched in distortion yet also borrows heavily from garage rock. And in doing so they have released one of the better albums thus far in 2009. Also in the mix is one of my favorite songs I've heard in awhile in "Heart Sweats": this song rocks for its entire four and a half minute running time. But things aren't always intense guitars and pounding drums and cymbals; later on during the song "Crazy/Forever" the duo slows things down into a groovy stoner metal-style riff on par with anything Kyuss or Fu Manchu has turned out and then switching it up for a very radio-friendly (catchy) sounding chorus. Although only eight tracks long, Japandroids pack enough punch and "fuck-it" attitude in these songs that as a listener you are not disappointed when track eight rolls back to one; it just means that you get to listen to it again.
4.6/5.0
Standout tracks: "Wet Hair" "Heart Sweats" "I Quit Girls"
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