100 Unheralded Albums from 2010

Japandroids: No SinglesJapandroids: No Singles (Polyvinyl, 5/11/10)

Japandroids: “Darkness on the Edge of Gastown”
Japandroids: “Darkness on the Edge of Gastown”

Canadian rock duo Japandroids plays it fast and loose, with all fuzzed-out guitar riffs and anthemic choruses, yet its music chugs along with clinical precision. No Singles is a compilation of two pre-Post Nothing (its breakthrough 2009 album) EPs, All Lies and Lullaby Death Jams, which were originally released on CD-R in limited quantities.

On stage, the band captures the structure of its records while imbuing copious energy into its already amped-up, punk-inflected sound. It’s a balance that demands total commitment and sincerity to make it work, and Japandroids has both.