By Princess Russell |Staff Writer|

The charismatic sense of celebration is the kind of vibe that describes Celebration Rock, Japandroids’ new album coming out on June 5.

The simplicity of the group begins with the fact that it consists of only two members. The duo makes garage-friendly music with simple guitar riffs and drums embedded in its tracks.

Band members David Prowse (drums) and Brian King (guitar) both bring young and fresh vocals, contributing to Celebration Rock’s lively feel. The new album, which follows 2009’s Post-Nothing, carries the undeniable spirit of rock.

The first track, “The Night of Wine and Roses” begins with the sounds of fire crackers setting off in the air. The song surprises you with the popping fire crackers, alluding to the intensity and fun of summer days and nights.

The album is accessible and not intimidating. Japandroids’ sound can be described as a musical oxymoron, lively and laid back with a spirited and unrefined twist.

In general, the album can be described as lukewarm at best. The album is not a complete failure but is far from a complete success. The production sounds amateur, yet you smile and continue to listen anyway, appreciating the music.

It is not the musical flair or talent that makes the Japandroids a success. The charisma of the duo keeps listeners intrigued and wanting to continue listening.

“Evil’s Sway” is an intriguing and thought-provoking song filled with heat and cunning lyrics such as, “We need fire and only kindling can buy it/wildness is our treasure/so boldly surrender to me and to the night.”

This song gives listeners the illusion of listening more to a live performance than anything. The sounds of the instrument are not so crisp, making you lose the nostalgia of rock.

The appropriately titled last track “Continuous Thunder” ends with the same firecrackers that were set off in the beginning of the album, generating wholeness in the album.

Japandroids are far from untalented. The breakdowns and guitar solos chime in at the right moments, which results in the songs sounding good, but not enough to be considered smash-hits.

Some listeners will come to appreciate the allure of the garage band sound. If they took their technique more seriously by tightening up on the sound, they could grow even more popular and be the indie-garage rock band to beat.

The great thing about Japandriods is the freshness of their sound compared to other indie bands. Though average, listeners will note that their music is anything but predictable.

Japandroids’ music does not have a perfect sound but despite their shortcomings, they show a lot of room for growth and improvement.

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