Each week The Hard Times takes a look back to review an album from the past. And maybe you recently woke up from a coma and decided it was time to check out Japandroids, we have you covered.
Oh, yeah. Here we go. Japandroids’ second album, a bonafide modern classic with the heart of “Tim” and the fury of “Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash.” And, most of all, the album to forever teach us that invaluable lesson: Dudes rock.
Well, here’s the thing. I just listened to “Celebration Rock” for the first time in a few years, and at no point do they ever say “dudes rock.”
I swore this was where “dudes rock” started. I even misremembered the album title as “Dudes Rock” and was getting annoyed it wasn’t showing up on Spotify. Then, I thought maybe one of the songs was called “Dudes Rock.” Nope. So, I figured it must’ve been in the lyrics somewhere. But it turned up in none of my searches.
Now, don’t get me wrong: “Celebration Rock” is still a great album. But it seems like if any album should be called – or at least feature the words – “dudes rock” it’s this one. Hell, in any of these songs, you could drop Brian King and David Prowse shouting “dudes rock!” Wouldn’t that make the end of “Younger Us” even better?
I don’t know when or if a new Japandroids album is coming, but if they want to use “dudes rock” in any capacity, the clock is ticking. Maybe they could surprise-drop a single called “dudes rock” in the next couple of weeks.
We can help them with it too. The lyrics can be about wanting to stay up all night and party, but like, not in a douchebro way. And it can have fuzzy power chord riffs and energetic drums mixed at incredibly high volumes. Oh, and maybe they could throw in some “oh oh” choruses too.
Actually, their next album could just be 8 songs called “Dudes Rock.” I bet that’s worth at least an 8.1 from Pitchfork, but their reviews are worthless. Don’t read them.
In conclusion, dudes rock.
Score: 10/10 dudes. 10/10 rock. 9/10 dudes rock.