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Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

by Japandroids

supported by
Gaelan D'costa
Gaelan D'costa thumbnail
Gaelan D'costa I feel Japandroids are growing into a Canadian version of Andrew W. K, a total expression of masculine healthy positivity without constantly declaring themselves as such or shaping everything into a manifesto.

There's also a certain muscular Canadiana that you can see in bands like The Hip, or Constantines.

It's really cool to see a duo grow into confidence from Post-Nothing, and as someone who _really_ connected with that album's anxieties, they give me both hope and an aspirational model. Favorite track: Arc Of Bar.
MICHAEL ROYER
MICHAEL ROYER thumbnail
MICHAEL ROYER I only want to discover new Rock bands in order to prove that this kind of music is not dead.
There will always be GREAT Rock bands which will make me dream forever
Danny Abbasi
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Danny Abbasi Japandroids put on one of the best shows I've ever been to - at Yuyintang, Shanghai, don't remember the year. Still getting into this album Favorite track: North East South West.
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1.
the future is under fire, the past is gaining ground a continuous cold war between my home and my hometown i was destined to die dreaming, when one day my best friend with passion and pure provocation, summoned me and said: you can't condemn your love, to linger here and die can't leave your dreams to chance or to a spirit in the sky may your heart always be ardent, your conscience always clear and succumb to the city and surrender, baby, i'll be waiting here and it got me all fired up, to go faraway and make some ears ring from the sound of my singing, baby so I left my home, and all I had i used to be good, but now I'm bad it was last call at my local, and i stalled saying goodbye so the girl behind the bar came over, and she took me aside she kissed me like a chorus, said give them hell for us and last drink of the night, last night in town, baby, this one is on the house and it got me all fired up, to go faraway and make some ears ring from the sound of my singing, baby so I left my home, and all I had i used to be good, but now I'm bad it was bedlam in my bed that night, and like a silent scream my body broke out in a sweat from seeing you in dreams you called out to me, i sang back to you and all i remember was it sounded, baby, like all hell breaking loose and it got me all fired up, to go faraway and make some ears ring from the sound of my singing, baby so I left my home, and all I had i used to be good, but now I'm bad
2.
bated breath and the guts to go criss-crossing the continent, all aglow leaving lovelorn, dating destiny and living for the moment that she marries me started this song in the southern states rays by the river, sinning at the saint hot and heavy when i hit the hay in nola, usa coast of california, the highway high noise, narcotics, and the new york night an unshaven shaman shaking down the day and all manner of madness standing in my way down in flames, with dice to roll up in smoke, running roulette road and man, america made a mess of me when i messed with texas and tennessee north east south west (coast to coast), baby, the trouble that I get into north east south west (coast to coast), it ain't shit compared to loving you north east south west (coast to coast), baby, the trouble that I get into north east south west (coast to coast), it ain't shit, it's just kicks, and like the road i'm going on and on and on flayed and gutted, so i've got to go back home, hungry for a hand to hold and no matter how much i fan the flames canada always answers when i call her name down and out, drinking dundas dry up against the wall of a winter's night toronto, i'm trusting you to cut the cane cause i'm saving vancouver for a rainy day north east south west (coast to coast), baby, the trouble that I get into north east south west (coast to coast), it ain't shit compared to loving you north east south west (coast to coast), baby, the trouble that I get into north east south west (coast to coast), it ain't shit, it's just kicks, and like the road i'm going on and on and on learn to let it go, baby shake, rattle, and roll, baby out of the city and scene and into some trouble with me we'll go north east south west we'll go north east south west we'll go north east south west we'll go north east south west
3.
flesh is foreign, friends are far debts run deep, sleep is minced or marred and it's all out war for the soul between dreams that are hungry and the fears that feed but i'll carry it, by chariot, through blood and blows under starless skies of fire into great unknown living on the lam, and the frontier of a free life of free will, for the thrill of your love spill your secrets and paint my days passion is your palette, your canvases cafes and null my nights in the harbour and hell of the cantina's counsel and meals of mezcal plans to settle down, plans to up and split plans loose as the morals we are planning with baby, be the beast, but free what burdens be and i'll love you, if you love me all life long until I'm gone cigarettes, sorcery, and biblical sins hangovers, heathens, harlots, and anti-heroines the cabarets, the getaways, and the afterglow a little money, and whatever is on the radio plans to settle down, plans to up and split plans loose as the morals we are planning with baby, be the beast, but free what burdens be and i'll love you, if you love me all life long until I'm gone
4.
from every day at dawn through to the dead of night i'm sorry for not finding you sooner i was looking for you all my life from every day at dawn through to the dead of night i'm sorry for not finding you sooner i was looking for you all my life from every day at dawn through to the dead of night i'm sorry for not finding you sooner i've been looking for you my whole life from every day at dawn through to the dead of night i'm sorry for not finding you sooner i've been looking for you my whole life my whole life i've been looking for you my whole life all my life
5.
Arc Of Bar 07:25
hustlers, whores, in rooms galore, a sinking city's stink an arc of bar, a flesh bazaar, of diamonds, dust, and drink the jukebox jamming, the lions lambing, the jokers doing the dealing and queens are over jacks, remember that, or catch a beating the night had come into her own, and i made the arc of bar my home beneath my clothes, just a bag of bones, under my skin, just skeletons i was rolling like a pair of dice, one for laws and one for lies but all of this i tried to hide, behind a glaze of sweat and fire to some a mistress, to some a muse, something soft for something blue she sussed my needs out of my dreams, and baptized me in flesh that seethes then she lay me like a baby on bed of spanish moss and for her love, i would help the devil to steal christ right off the cross i lay blame on the arc of bar, and the hundred proof in me but the arc, it blames the air, hundred percent humidity well at least those damned mosquitoes that fall flounder to the flood get a thimble full of whiskey with their paltry pint of blood (my blood) this port of call, it ain't no port at all, but cap my cup and anchors up the jokers, they tease another hand, but they're out of luck cause i'm out of town and the sun, it’s like an omen, goading me toward the gospel but i got no plans at all, except a drink as soon as possible some men offer confession, for their souls and grace of god for others, women offer mercy, and mosquitoes their applause
6.
born to marry the bottle in a ceremony that lasts forever and cursed to carry on abuzz and all alone weak and weary on the run and on the road but if you'll hide me and heal me in your sanctuary i'll stay forever so leave a light on and i'll leave the bottle to its own so many miles so much to lose devil by my side right between us two and i'm praying those yellow lines on the I-5 bring me back home to you
7.
passport, past life, a drifter's demons alone, lost, and fast running out of reasons for not falling in with the foreign legion cold kicking the can around town one evening streets all abandoned, bars barely breathing a whirlwind, a woman, and a famous feeling a cool, hard beauty, christened with composure boots, skirt, blouse, shawl over her shoulders skin soft, lips coloured crimson clover slow burning sermon, to have and hold her but ever since she started sleeping over oh lord, i'm living like a holy roller red animal romance in the summer heat in parks, on patios, and in the streets on mission, making moments into memories and when winter's off the leash, and on the loose we ward off the weather with a witches' brew of dominoes, and prose, and delta blues and no known drink, no known drug could ever hold a candle to your love
8.
christ will call you out school will deepen debt work will sap the soul hometown haunts what’s left love will scar the heart sun will burn the skin just the way it is and way it's always been all in a lifetime, and all in a body like a grave age is a traitor, and bit and bit less lust for life, more talking shit but remember there's heaven in the hellest of holes and a drink for the body is a dream for the soul well time will tell, but best beware cause time is money, and money swears so break the bank like you're breaking a bill then love so hard that time stands still if your name is shamed, or your love is lost swap the city's lights for the southern cross gather the gang, and make that night an ultimatum to the universe, fuck or fight from a mere mirage to the moment of your cum of cums with your love of loves it's all in a lifetime, but here and now only god knows where, and devil knows how all in a lifetime, and all in a body like a grave

about

After playing the last of their 200 shows in more than 40 countries in support of their critically acclaimed 2012 album Celebration Rock, Japandroids took a much needed break to rest and recover after their last show in November of 2013. The band would not play again for three years. This month, they made their triumphant return to the stage, playing intimate shows in Vancouver, LA, Toronto, London and NYC, in which they treated fans to their favorites from Celebration Rock and Post-Nothing, and previewed a handful of new, unreleased songs. Now, the band has announced their much anticipated third album, Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, out worldwide on Anti- this January 27, 2017.

Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, was written clandestinely throughout 2014 and 2015 in Vancouver, Toronto, New Orleans, and Mexico City. It was (mostly) recorded by Jesse Gander (who had previously recorded both Post-Nothing and Celebration Rock) at Rain City Recorders in Vancouver, BC (September-November, 2015). One song, True Love And A Free Life Of Free Will, was recorded by Damian Taylor during an exploratory recording session at Golden Ratio in Montreal, QC (February, 2015). The album was mixed by Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, CT (May, 2016) and mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound in New York, NY (July, 2016).

Like Post-Nothing and Celebration Rock, the album is 8 songs. This is because 8 songs is the standard template for a great rock n roll album: Raw Power by The Stooges, Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen, Marquee Moon by Television, IV by Led Zeppelin, Horses by Patti Smith, Paranoid by Black Sabbath, Remain In Light by Talking Heads, Master Of Puppets by Metallica, etc.

Like Post-Nothing and Celebration Rock, the album was sequenced specifically for the LP. On Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, side A (songs 1-4) and side B (songs 5-7) each follow their own loose narrative. Taken together as one, they form an even looser narrative, with the final song on side B (song 8) acting as an epilogue.

credits

released January 27, 2017

All songs written by Japandroids, periodically throughout 2014-2015
in Vancouver, Toronto, New Orleans, and Mexico City.

Lyrics by Brian King except 'Midnight To Morning' by Brian King and David Prowse.

Songs 1, 2, 4-8 recorded by Jesse Gander at Rain City Recorders in Vancouver, BC (September-November, 2015).
Produced by Jesse Gander & Japandroids.

Song 3 recorded by Damian Taylor at Golden Ratio in Montreal, QC (February, 2015).
Produced by Damian Taylor & Japandroids.

Mixing and Additional Production by Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, CT (May, 2016).
Assisted by Greg Giorgio.

Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound in New York, NY.
JAPANDROIDS

Brian King - Guitars, Lead Vocals (1-5, 7, 8), Back-up Vocals (6)
David Prowse - Drums, Lead Vocals (6), Back-up Vocals (1, 2, 5, 8)

Additional Vocals on 'Arc Of Bar' by Louise Burns, Melissa Gregerson, and Olga Straffon
PHOTOGRAPHY

FRONT COVER, BACK COVER (2016)
by Leigh Righton

WRITING, RECORDING (2014, 2015)
by Brian King and David Prowse

ON TOUR (2012-2013)
Photos by Brian King, David Prowse, Melissa Gregerson,
Lewis Lovely, Brent Wingen, Bob Smythe, Tom "Valentino" Rogers, and Jim Larson.
Additional photos by Leigh Righton, Jennilee Marigomen, and Trey Riedmayer

FRONT COVER, BACK COVER OF BOOK: ON TOUR (2012-2013)

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