''Celebration Rock'' is the second studio album by Canadian rock duo
Japandroids
Japandroids are a Canadian rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, consisting of Brian King (guitar, vocals) and David Prowse (drums, vocals).Lindsay, Ca"No Fun City Rockers" ''Exclaim!'', May 2009 accessed November 10, 2010.
Formed in 2006 ...
, released on June 5, 2012, by
Polyvinyl
In polymer chemistry, vinyl polymers are a group of polymers derived from substituted vinyl () monomers. Their backbone is an extended alkane chain . In popular usage, "vinyl" refers only to polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Examples
Vinyl polymers are ...
. Recorded in Vancouver with ''Post-Nothing'' engineer Jesse Gander, the band aspired to capture the spirit and energy of their live shows, thus forgoing standard studio techniques such as double tracking and overdubbing, while consciously taking into account the perceived reaction of their audience to hearing the songs live in concert.Rytlewski, Eva "Japandroids: Bottling the Enthusiasm" Express Milwaukee. May 21, 2013 accessed January 22, 2014.Dombal, Ryan Japandroids Talk New Album
Pitchfork Media
''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog.
Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...
. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
The album was released to widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its blending of classic rock and punk rock influences.Hermes, Wil "Japandroids: One Part Classic Rock, One Part Punk" ''
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
Pitchfork Media
''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog.
Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...
'', May 29, 2012 accessed June 7, 2012.
The Globe and Mail
''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...
named it the best Canadian album of 2012, while CBC declared it the best rock album of the year, later ranking it #91 on its list of ''The 100 Greatest Canadian Albums Ever''.CBC Musi "The 100 Greatest Canadian Albums Ever" '' CBC Music'', July 28, 2012 accessed January 22, 2014. The album was also well received internationally, with
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'', July 18, 2012 accessed January 22, 2014.Harvilla, Ro "Band of the Year: Japandroids" '' Spin'', December 3, 2012 accessed January 22, 2014.
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...
later recognized ''Celebration Rock'' as one of best albums of the 2010s, describing it as "the most beautiful, life-affirming rock record of the decade".
Background
Japandroids toured extensively in support of their first album, performing over 200 shows in more than 20 countries between June 2009 and October 2010. Following two New Year's shows December 31 and January 1 at Schubas Tavern in Chicago, the band decided to discontinue touring in support of ''Post-Nothing'', and return to Vancouver to begin work on a new album.Dombal, Rya Interviews: Japandroids
Pitchfork Media
''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog.
Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...
. 24 May 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
After taking the bulk of 2011 off to work on new material, Japandroids revealed that they would tour North America with
Bass Drum of Death
Bass Drum of Death is an American garage punk band from Oxford, Mississippi, United States, currently signed to Fat Possum Records.
History
The band's frontman, John Barrett, formed Bass Drum of Death in 2008 as a one-man-band, playing both his ...
throughout August and September playing primarily smaller, intimate venues in order to test out their new material prior to the recording of their second album. During these shows, the band debuted several new songs including "Fire's Highway,"", "Adrenaline Nightshift", and "Evil's Sway".
Following the tour, the band temporarily relocated from
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
to Nashville to continue writing. The duo cited disillusion with Vancouver, as well as the difficulty of returning to a sedentary lifestyle following two years of continuous touring, as the primary motivations for the move. Both "The House That Heaven Built" and "Continuous Thunder" were written during this period.
Recording
The album was recorded in
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
with '' Post-Nothing'' engineer Jesse Gander. The band has said they intended for the album to capture the spirit and energy of their live shows, thus foregoing standard studio techniques such as
double tracking
Double tracking or doubling is an audio recording technique in which a performer sings or plays along with their own prerecorded performance, usually to produce a stronger or bigger sound than can be obtained with a single voice or instrument. ...
and overdubbing, while consciously taking into account the perceived reaction of their audience to hearing the songs live in concert. On recording the album, guitarist Brian King said "Technically speaking, the process for recording ''Celebration Rock'' was almost identical to that of our previous records: same studio, same engineer, same equipment, same techniques, etc. To me, the progression lies in the songwriting, the captured performances, and the mixing/production of the album, all of which are simply reflections of our shared knowledge and experience since recording '' Post-Nothing''."Stanley, Car Louder Than War Interview: Japandroids
Louder Than War
''Louder Than War'' is a music and culture website and magazine focusing on mainly alternative arts news, reviews, and features. The site is an editorially independent publication that was started by journalist John Robb in 2010 and is now ru ...
. October 11, 2012 accessed January 22, 2014.
In an interview with
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...
, drummer Dave Prowse cited ''
Appetite for Destruction
''Appetite for Destruction'' is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. It was released on July 21, 1987, by Geffen Records. The album was released to little mainstream attention in 1987. It was not until the following ...
'' as a specific influence on the album's sequencing. Rather than having a traditional ‘Side A’ and ‘Side B’ structure, ''Appetite For Destruction'' is split into ‘G’ and ‘R’ sides: the former 'Gun' side dealing with violence and debauchery (‘
Welcome To The Jungle
"Welcome to the Jungle" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses, featured on their debut album, ''Appetite for Destruction'' (1987). It was released as the album's second single initially in the UK in September 1987 then again in Octobe ...
’, ‘
Paradise City
"Paradise City" is a song by the American rock band Guns N' Roses, featured on their debut album, ''Appetite for Destruction'' (1987). Released as a single in January 1989, it is the only song on the album to feature a synthesizer. The song pea ...
’), while the latter 'Roses' side focused on love and sex (‘
Sweet Child o' Mine
"Sweet Child o' Mine" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses. It appears on their debut album, ''Appetite for Destruction''. In the United States, the song was released in June 1988 as the album's third single, topping the ''Billboard'' ...
’, ‘
Rocket Queen
"Rocket Queen" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses, featured on their debut studio album, ''Appetite for Destruction'' (1987). The song is notable for incorporating moans from a woman, Adriana Smith, who was recorded having sexual inter ...
’). As King further explained, "We had this idea of the album having two sides, where ike ''Appetite For Destruction''‘Side A’ is super-intense and ‘Side B’ is softer and poppier."
Music
The music on ''Celebration Rock'' has been described as "one part classic rock, one part punk", due to the blending of classic rock influences such as Bruce Springsteen and
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950October 2, 2017) was an American musician who was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, was a member of the la ...
Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü () was an American punk rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould, bassist/vocalist Greg Norton, and drummer/vocalist Grant Hart. They first gained notabili ...
. Critic Steven Hyden described ''Celebration Rock'' as "taking a mighty lunge at the pantheon of great rock records," commenting that the album "addresses the teenage wasteland with the bombastic mix of fury and empathy that derives from ''
Who's Next
''Who's Next'' is the fifth studio album by English rock band the Who. It developed from the aborted '' Lifehouse'' project, a multi-media rock opera conceived by the group's guitarist Pete Townshend as a follow-up to the band's 1969 album '' ...
''; traffics in the same streetwise rock-patter drivel originating from ''
Born to Run
''Born to Run'' is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on August 25, 1975, by Columbia Records. As his effort to break into the mainstream, the album was a commercial success, peaking at number three ...
''; has the drunkard's sentimentality of ''Let It Be'', and the tour-weary determinism of ''
Appetite for Destruction
''Appetite for Destruction'' is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. It was released on July 21, 1987, by Geffen Records. The album was released to little mainstream attention in 1987. It was not until the following ...
''. It's a beefy, pop-conscious punk record in the mold of ''
Nevermind
''Nevermind'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991, by DGC Records. It was Nirvana's first release on a major label and the first to feature drummer Dave Grohl. Produced by Butch Vig, '' ...
'', and it's destined to become, like ''
White Blood Cells
White blood cells, also called leukocytes or leucocytes, are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders. All white blood cells are produced and derived from mult ...
'', an important battle in the never-ending war to end bass playing as we know it."
The band has repeatedly cited '' Live at Raji's'' by
The Dream Syndicate
The Dream Syndicate is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1981 to 1989, and reunited since 2012. The band is associated with neo-psychedelia and the Paisley Underground music movement; of the ba ...
Westword
''Westword'' is a free digital and print media publication based in Denver, Colorado. ''Westword'' publishes daily online coverage of local news, restaurants, music and arts, as well as longform narrative journalism. A weekly print issue cir ...
'', June 19, 2012 accessed January 22, 2014. The song "The Nights of Wine and Roses" is an homage to The Dream Syndicate song "
The Days of Wine and Roses
''The Days of Wine and Roses'' is the second record and the debut full-length album by American alternative rock band the Dream Syndicate. Produced by Chris D. (of the Flesh Eaters/ Divine Horsemen), it was recorded in Los Angeles in September 1 ...
".
Lyrics
Lyrically, ''Celebration Rock'' has been described as a callback to classic rock conventions for its use of universal, mythic rock & roll language, including the use of contrasting themes such as good and evil, heaven and hell, life and death, young and old, etc. As Ian Cohen of
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...
noted, "Japandroids have gone from having almost none at all yricsto packing their songs with an astonishing command of legend and literalism that all but dares you to feel ''something''." Regarding his use of language and themes, King stated:
King has cited the novel ''
Under The Volcano
''Under the Volcano'' is a novel by English writer Malcolm Lowry (1909–1957) published in 1947. The novel tells the story of Geoffrey Firmin, an alcoholic British consul in the Mexican city of Quauhnahuac, on the Day of the Dead in Novemb ...
'' by Malcolm Lowry as a primary influence, inspiring him to try using more descriptive and poetic language in his lyrics: "In retrospect, the only work I can see reflected in the lyrics of ''Celebration Rock'' is ''Under The Volcano'' by Malcolm Lowry, a book I read twice during 2010-2011."
Release and promotion
On March 26, 2012, Japandroids announced that their second album ''Celebration Rock'' would be released by
Polyvinyl
In polymer chemistry, vinyl polymers are a group of polymers derived from substituted vinyl () monomers. Their backbone is an extended alkane chain . In popular usage, "vinyl" refers only to polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Examples
Vinyl polymers are ...
on June 5, 2012, preceded by a limited edition 7" of the album's first single "The House That Heaven Built" on May 15, 2012. On May 27, 2012, ''Celebration Rock'' was streamed in its entirety on NPR Music.Thompson, Stephen First Listen: Japandroids, 'Celebration Rock' NPR Music. 27 May 2012. Retrieved on 05 February 2019. The album was released in the band's native Canada on May 29, 2012. On June 8, 2012, the band performed the songs "Fire's Highway" and "The House That Heaven Built" on '' Late Night with Jimmy Fallon''. On February 25, 2013, the band performed the song "The Nights of Wine & Roses" on '' Conan''. On February 27, 2013, it was announced that "The House That Heaven Built" had temporarily been named the entrance theme for the
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
professional ice hockey team. On June 20, 2013, the band performed the song "Adrenaline Nightshift" on '' Late Show with David Letterman''.
Music video
A video for " The House That Heaven Built", Japandroids' first music video, was released in August to promote the single. The black-and-white video, directed by Jim Larson and produced by
Pitchfork.tv
''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog.
Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...
, documented one week in the life of Japandroids on tour using footage from the east coast portion of their spring 2012 U.S. tour, including live footage from shows in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
,
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...
,
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
,
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, and
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
Tour
Japandroids toured heavily in support of ''Celebration Rock'', performing over 200 shows in more than 40 countries between March 2012 and November 2013. The ''Celebration Rock Tour'' consisted of 13 individual legs across
North
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.
Etymology
The word ''north ...
and
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
,
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
,
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...
, and
Oceania
Oceania (, , ) is a geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern and Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of and a population of around 44.5 million ...
, including numerous festival appearances:
Coachella Coachella may refer to:
* Coachella, California
* Coachella Canal, in California
* Coachella (festival), an annual music and arts festival in California
* "Coachella – Woodstock in My Mind", a 2017 song by Lana del Rey
See also
* Coachell ...
,
Bonnaroo
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an American annual four-day music festival developed and founded by Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment. Since its first year in 2002, it has been held at what is now Great Stage Park on a farm in M ...
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...
Fun Fun Fun Fest
Fun Fun Fun Fest (often abbreviated as "FFF" or "F3F") was an annual music and comedy festival held in Austin, Texas, United States. The festival was the only genre based festival in the United States, featuring stages that focused specifically ...
,
Free Press Summer Fest
The Free Press Summer Festival was an annual two-day music festival held in Houston, Texas at Buffalo Bayou's Eleanor Tinsley Park.
Other activities include fireworks, interactive art installations, a paint slide, music workshops, a 30-foot wat ...
Primavera Sound
Primavera Sound (commonly referred to as simply Primavera) is an annual music festival held in Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona, Spain that takes place between the end of May and beginning of June. The first edition took place in 2001 in Poble Espanyo ...
Latitude
In geography, latitude is a coordinate that specifies the north– south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body. Latitude is given as an angle that ranges from –90° at the south pole to 90° at the north pol ...
and
Longitude
Longitude (, ) is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east– west position of a point on the surface of the Earth, or another celestial body. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees and denoted by the Greek lette ...
festivals in Europe,
Vive Latino
Vive Latino - Festival Iberoamericano de Cultura Musical is an annual music festival held in Mexico City. It is one of the most important music festivals in Mexico, featuring a great variety of groups of many genres.
The event takes place in Foro ...
in Mexico,
Fuji Rock Festival
is an annual rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The three-day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it the largest outdoor music event in Japa ...
in Japan, and
Laneway Festival
The St. Jerome's Laneway Festival, commonly referred to as Laneway, began in Caledonian Lane, Melbourne, Australia, in 2005. Beginning as predominantly an indie music event, the festival grew in popularity and expanded to five Australian citie ...
in Australia.
Reception
''Celebration Rock'' was released to critical acclaim. On
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created by Jason Dietz, Marc ...
, the album has a score of 83 out of 100, based on 33 collected reviews. ''
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
s Kyle Ryan wrote, "Maybe it's because the songs were so hard won after that long dry spell that they sound especially lively, but ''Celebration Rock'' starts strong and stays there over the course of its eight songs and 35 minutes." Ian Cohen of ''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...
'' gave the album a "Best New Music" designation, writing that even though ''Celebration Rock'' was recorded the same exact way as '' Post-Nothing,'' ''Celebration Rock'' " .dwarf its impressive predecessor." Cohen continued: " writing about something other than the experience of being Japandroids, the duo taps into a power greater than itself to address impossibly vast and elemental topics-- friendship, lust, revenge, art, self-actualization-- with songs every bit as big." Megan Ritt of ''
Consequence of Sound
''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook ...
'' felt that the band had "retained the energy that pulses below the surface of the best tracks on ''Post-Nothing'' and infused it with more focus. Where ''Post-Nothing'' melts into a hazy dream, ''Celebration Rock'' does exactly what it claims to do—it burns on and on like the best sort of party."
Not all reviews were positive, however. ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
''s Alex Denney gave ''Celebration Rock'' a mixed review, writing "Japandroids know how to bring the ruckus. But elsewhere the power-chord pummelage gets a bit one-note — and
The Gun Club
The Gun Club were an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States, which existed from 1979 to 1996. It was formed and led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeffrey Lee Pierce.
History Early days (1979–1980)
The Gun Club w ...
cover only reminds us that journeymen like these have no business dancing with the bones of
Jeffrey Lee Pierce
Jeffrey Lee Pierce (June 27, 1958 – March 31, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and author. He was one of the founding members of the band The Gun Club, and released material as a solo artist.
Biography Early life
Pierce ...
." ''
Now
Now most commonly refers
to the present time.
Now, NOW, or The Now may also refer to:
Organizations
* Natal Organisation of Women, a South African women's organization
* National Organization for Women, an American feminist organization
* Now ...
''s Carla Gillis criticized the album's repetitiveness, writing " .the band's refusal ever to let up on volume, bombast, group-shouted vocals, fast-strummed chords or smashing drums makes ''Celebration Rock'' an exhausting sonic assault in need of variety."
The album peaked at number 37 on the ''Billboard'' 200.
Accolades
''Celebration Rock'' was nominated for the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year.
On June 14, 2012, the album was named as a long-listed nominee for the
2012 Polaris Music Prize
The 2012 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 24, 2012Feist's 2011 album ''
Metals
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typical ...
''.
''Celebration Rock'' appeared on many critics year-end best-of lists:
*#1 – MTV's 20 Best Albums of 2012
*#1 –
The Globe and Mail
''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...
The Globe and Mail
''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...
'', December 16, 2012 accessed January 22, 2014.
*#1 – CBC Music's Top Rock Albums of 2012Shuymka, Dav “Top 5 Rock Albums of 2012” '' CBC Music'', December 17, 2012 accessed January 22, 2014.
*#1 – BuzzFeed's Top Rock Albums of 2012
*#2 – ''
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
''s Top 25 Albums of 2012
*#2 –
USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...
's Top Albums of 2012
*#2 –
Insound
Insound was a discounted, online music store. Insound carried CD, vinyl, hard to find items, music accessories and merchandise. The company was located in New York, New York.
History
Insound was founded in 1998 by Christian Anthony, Matt Wishn ...
's Top 50 Albums of 2012
*#3 – ''Spin''s 50 Best Albums of 2012
*#4 –
Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the cr ...
's Top 25 Albums of 2012
*#4 – '' Exclaim!''s Top 30 Albums of 2012
*#5 –
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...
's Best Music of 2012
*#5 –
Consequence of Sound
''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook ...
's Top 50 Albums of 2012
*#5 –
PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
's The 75 Best Albums of 2012
*#6 –
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television a ...
's Top 10 Albums of 2012
*#7 – Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2012
*#7 – ''Paste'' Magazine's 50 Best Albums of 2012
*#9 – ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
''s 50 Best Albums of 2012
*#11 – ''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...
''s Top 50 Albums of 2012
*
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
's 50 Favorite Albums of 2012
Metacritic lists the album as #5 on its ''2012 Music Critic's List'', which collects and tallies the individual year-end Top Ten lists published by major music critics and publications.Metacriti "2012 Music Critic Top Ten Lists" ''
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created by Jason Dietz, Marc ...
'', December 4, 2012, accessed January 22, 2014. In Canada,
The Globe and Mail
''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...
(Canada's newspaper of record) named ''Celebration Rock'' the best Canadian album of 2012, while CBC declared it the best rock album of the year, later ranking it #91 on its list of ''The 100 Greatest Canadian Albums Ever''. The album was also well received internationally, with ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' listing it as one of ''The 10 Coolest Summer Albums of All Time'', and '' Spin'' magazine calling it the third best album of 2012, later naming
Japandroids
Japandroids are a Canadian rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, consisting of Brian King (guitar, vocals) and David Prowse (drums, vocals).Lindsay, Ca"No Fun City Rockers" ''Exclaim!'', May 2009 accessed November 10, 2010.
Formed in 2006 ...
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band formed in 1983 by vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and guitarist-vocalist Blixa Bargeld. The band has featured international personnel throughout its career and pr ...
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Personnel
;Japandroids
* Brian King – guitar, lead vocals
* David Prowse - drums, backup vocals
;Technical
* Jesse Gander - Engineering, Mixing, Production
* Alan Douches - Mastering
;Photography
*Reiner Asscheman
*Brian Banks
*Annika Berglund
*Christian Bobak
*Simone Cecchetti
*Andy Collins
*Sam Cowling
*Geoff Hargadon
*Andy Mueller
*Tom Øverlie
*Leonardo Solis Varela
*Maryanne Ventrice
*Charlotte Zoller