Japandroids Announce Album & Tour

Japandroids have announced the release of their first album in five years. Near to the Wild Heart of Life will be released on vinyl by Anti- Records on January 24th, with a CD/digital release following three days later.

Like their prior albums, 2009’s Post-Nothing and 2012’s Celebration Rock, the album contains eight songs sequenced specifically for the LP. Songs 1-4 and songs 5-8 (sides A and B, respectively) each follow their own loose narratives. The Vancouver-based duo (guitarist/vocalist Brian King, drummer/vocalist David Prowse) apparently consider eight songs the standard template for great rock ‘n’ roll albums, e.g. Raw Power, Marquee Moon, Horses or Talking Heads’ Remain in Light. Speaking of Talking Heads, those who pre-order the album at japandroids.com will receive a special edition bonus 7” of the first single, “Near to the Wild Heart of Life,” backed with a non-album cover of the Heads “Love –> Building on Fire.”

A North American tour begins Feb. 13th in Madison, Wisconsin, and hits Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse on March 3rd.

Photo by Leigh Righton.