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For nearly a decade, Brian King and David Prowses Japandroids were the ideal postrecession rock group.
Im supportive of Brian, he said.
Im glad hes a happier and healthier person today than he has been at some points in the past.
And if that means the end of this band, so be it.
Theres always hope a final record will serve as a worthy good-bye.
Unfortunately, the just-releasedFate & Alcoholfeels like a lazy retread of better Japandroids albums.
!lyrics but lack the left-field experiments ofWild Heartor the cathartic energy ofPost-NothingandCelebration Rock.
For the first time, Japandroids sound bored.
While the music used to mask some of this awkwardness, the mixing onFate & Alcoholpushes the instrumentsunderthe vocals.
It happens again on D&T with his generic lines a little too front and center.
In the rare moments the album clicks, it feels like a parody of Japandroids.
Alice has the same slow-burn thrill as Sovereignty without the satisfying climax.
If this were simply another Japandroids album, these sins would feel less glaring.
Beloved final albums are tricky, but theyve been accomplished before.
Rather than fading into the sunset, Japandroids have awkwardly fizzled out.
