Japandroids Release Their Triumphant Third Album, ‘Near to the Wild Heart of Life’

By Terence Praet Mar 29, 2022 5:42 AM

Japandroids Press Photo — Credit: Leigh Righton Leigh Righton

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The title of Japandroids third album, Near to the Wild Heart of Life, comes indirectly from a passage in James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

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Reading Clarice Lispector’s Near to the Wild Heart inspired vocalist-guitarist Brian King to, as he put it, “write a song that mimicked both the style and structure of the novel, somehow hoping to retain what I could of the tone and themes.” As King later discovered, the title of Lispector’s novel is taken from a passage in Joyce’s. King initially attempted to include elements of both novels in his song but later dropped the idea “in favour of [his] own account of awakening.” The album’s title track is the result.

Japandroids – “Near To The Wild Heart Of Life” (Full Album Stream)

Japandroids’ Near to the Wild Heart of Life is out now through Anti- and available on Buy Now , Anti-‘s official store, and iTunes.

Terence Praet contributes to The Manual’s New Music Monday column. He studied Philosophy and History at Skidmore College… Read Full Bio

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