Record #3: Japandroids’ ‘Post-Nothing’
Oh sweet Jesus, another two-piece rock band. I’ll admit I’ve become exceedingly burnt out on this trend myself—especially in regard to duos of a blues-based and/or psychedelic ilk. Not to mention that I need bass. But there’s something beautifully succinct about a two-member band that still manages to fill the space in this certain way—a way that makes you forget how many people are making these sounds. And that’s why I’ll always be on the hunt for a solid two-piece.
Post-Nothing is moving. It’s consistent. At times, the lyrics are relatively cringe-inducing (“It’s raining in Vancouver / But I don’t give a fuck / ’Cause I’m far from home tonight / I’m in love with you tonight”). But not since Death From Above 1979 have I heard two dudes who can utilize the limited resources at their disposal in a manner that is so fascinatingly engaging and—as a colleague of mine would put it—“pathologically themselves.” It’s tough to say who their influences might be…perhaps The Constantines? The Sonics? Post-Nothing’s darkest moments (i.e. “Heart Sweats”) make me think these guys might have even listened to a lot of NIN in their day.
The lo-fi nature of the production and the straight-ahead bombast and looseness of the playing make me want to call it minimalist, but that would classify it as a bit more inaccessible than it truly is. At eight tracks in 35 minutes, I’ve already listened to this record about six times, and I’m thinking I might need to get my hands on their previous two EPs. Post-Nothing was released in April by Unfamiliar Records, and it will be re-released worldwide in August by Polyvinyl. They’ll be in my town (Nashville) July 2. There’s a little taste here of what those of us at The End can expect to see on the 2nd.
