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9.1
92689
9.1 |
Pretty Much Amazing
Japandroids return, proud Canadians, to provide the right medicine at a dark time
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9.1
92700
9.1 |
A.V. Club
Japandroids have always sought love and adventure in equal measure, and they get both on Near To The Wild Heart Of Life. Just don’t expect a band this restless to settle down too much
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9.0
92578
9.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Proof that, while Japandroids are still capable of the cathartic sermons that can lead to hoarse voices and declarations of love, they can break from the formula and deliver something fresh and exciting
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9.0
92613
9.0 |
PopMatters
Every moment on the record feels like life and death
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8.0
92637
8.0 |
musicOMH
Another great Japandroids album
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8.0
92669
8.0 |
Exclaim
Give it the chance it deserves and it will not disappoint
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8.0
92685
8.0 |
Rolling Stone
When you hear 'em in a club – or theater, or arena – you'll be bouncing off the walls, shouting every word
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8.0
92687
8.0 |
God Is In The TV
Yet another consummate collection of sing-a-long, shouty anthems but there is restraint here too
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8.0
92575
8.0 |
Uncut
Finds wildness in unexpected places
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8.0
92576
8.0 |
Under The Radar
A 30-minute blast of hopeful, soaring rock
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8.0
92605
8.0 |
The Music
While it sounds great coming out of earbuds and stereo speakers, the best part of this record is that it delivers eight more songs that are sure to destroy when played live
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8.0
92706
8.0 |
The Independent
An album which focuses their stadium-alt-punk sound to its sharpest edge yet
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8.0
92788
8.0 |
American Songwriter
The music still trades heavily on David Prowse’s endlessly rolling drums and Brian King’s speedily-strummed electric guitar
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8.0
92873
8.0 |
The Guardian
The duo have nailed the art of the crunching, life-affirming crescendo
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8.0
93055
8.0 |
NOW
Full of songs that wouldn’t have previously fit into their charged-up canon
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7.8
92579
7.8 |
Gig Soup
A worthy expansion built upon the formidable bedrock lain in albums past
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7.2
92786
7.2 |
Earbuddy
It feels like the band wanted to move in a new direction before they had any idea what that direction was. They throw some new ideas on the table, mixed with the fizzing anthems of drunken lore, and end up with a pretty solid record
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7.1
92612
7.1 |
Pitchfork
Sticks to the Japandroids M.O., but the end results are less enticing
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7.0
92597
7.0 |
No Ripcord
An occasionally uplifting, but mainly standard, declaration that suggests they’re currently experiencing a transitional phase as songwriters
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7.0
92683
7.0 |
Clash
A bold and confident return
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7.0
92615
7.0 |
Loud And Quiet
Japandroids aren’t going 100mph anymore but that’s ok, because for the first time, it feels like they know where they want to go
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7.0
92793
7.0 |
All Music
If they remain a little constrained by their formalism -- they're so determined to be part of a tradition they can often be swallowed by it -- it's nevertheless hard not to admire their ambition
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7.0
92821
7.0 |
Drowned In Sound
There’s plenty of Near to the Wild Heart of Life that carries the essential appeal of the band in spades, namely, a dedication to giving it your all until you collapse with euphoria and exhaustion
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7.0
92690
7.0 |
Beardfood
Except for the opener, this one is a little harder to shout along to with your bros, but still – it’s pretty euphoric
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6.7
92650
6.7 |
Consequence Of Sound
Consumable enough to warrant repeat listens. It just won’t be a record that saves you when you need it to
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6.5
92603
6.5 |
The 405
By removing its circumstantial baggage entirely, The Wild Heart Of Life is satisfying and uplifting, and continuously so. But it feels in every way – sans the band’s personal serenity – a regression after Celebration Rock
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6.0
92580
6.0 |
The Arts Desk
Brian King and David Prowse have got their sights firmly set on writing an anthem for the Millenial Generation
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6.0
92577
6.0 |
Q
A tentative flex in a new direction with just about enough of their old sound to keep fans happy. Print edition only
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6.0
92775
6.0 |
Crack
While the stadium-friendly bombast of Near to the Wild Heart of Life might turn off a lot of listeners, off the back of the most wretched year in living memory Japandroids’ anthemic punk optimism is a momentary relief from the terror of now
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6.0
92791
6.0 |
DIY
Given time to stretch those aching muscles, though, there’s little doubting their ability to deliver on this newfound ambition
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6.0
92905
6.0 |
State
They have expanded and enhanced their sound on a different but ultimately rewarding record
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5.0
93036
5.0 |
Tiny Mix Tapes
The indignant, shouted delivery feels more dull than inspired at this point — resonant oh!s cast abound, but never quite catching on
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4.6
92667
4.6 |
Sputnik Music (staff)
Near to the Wild Heart of Life succeeds only in proving that the Japandroids of 2017 will have a hard time matching their former glories
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