#271 (of 365) "The House That Heaven Built" Japandroids

Japandroids are a two-piece (drummer/guitar) from Vancouver who were very much the model for the fictional band of Cyrus and Jeff from my 2nd novel The Best Hardcore Band in PA. A singer/guitarist (Jeff) and a drummer (Cy) who made music in Jeff's garage until his evangelical preacher father finds out the songs they're singing include references to "Satan" and bans them from playing in the garage and Jeff from seeing Cyrus. When Jeff rebels, the fist is mightier than the guitar, and the boys are torn apart just as they are starting to form more than friendship.

Japandroids released two incredible albums in 2009 and 2012, then had a five-year hiatus before a middling follow-up, then a 7 year hiatus before a release last year that, honestly, I barely listened to. They said it would be their last release. This band meant a lot to me while I was writing the novel. As well as before. Hell--the banner on this blog, same as the banner on my original blog VagueSpace.net features lyrics from a Japandroids song. But they never recaptured the perfect joy of the 8 tracks on Celebration Rock, three of which made this countdown. This is the first of them.

"The House That Heaven Built" - Japandroids // Celebration Rock (2012)