Japandroids Release 'No Singles,' Plan to Release More Singles

Japandroids' just-released 'No Singles' culls material from two out-of-print EPs that the Vancouver-based duo released prior to 2009's critically lauded 'Post-Nothing.' While the songs featured on the new record, now re-mastered by John Golden (Melvins, Nirvana), boast the same frantic raw energy as heard on the act's longplayer, they might not necessarily be the best introduction to the band, according to singer-drummer Dave Prowse.

"I really like those singles a lot as a companion piece to 'Post-Nothing'," Prowse tells Spinner. "On those early recordings we're still trying to figure it out -- that first EP, 'All Lies,' is pretty rough around the edges. I think 'Post-Nothing' captures more of a sound of a band that knows what kind of songs they're trying to write."

"For a long time we didn't think we'd be the ones singing either," Prowse continues. "On those first EPs, we would be working on the instrumental part of the music for quite some time and then just throw the lyrics together. As time has gone on though, we somewhat reluctantly started singing and now we feel a lot more comfortable doing it."

"I wouldn't go so far as to say we know how to sing well," he laughs, "but we know how to sing well for us."

Getting the opportunity to hear this progression first hand is a big selling point for 'No Singles.' The record should also tide fans over until Japandroids put out the next installment in their limited edition five-part singles series, which kicked off with 'Art Czars' back in April.

"Basically we just wanted to start releasing some new material while we're still touring," Prowse says of the singles, which will each feature an original track on the A side and a cover on the flipside. "We're not going to be able to take a longer break and work on a full-length for awhile because we still have quite a bit of touring to go, so the singles project is kind of a way of using whatever time we have to record and just kind of do it piece by piece.

"You have a lot more freedom to kind of be all over the map with the seven-inch series," he continues. "With 'Post-Nothing', there's kind of the same sort of feel that ties it all together, the drums sound the same in all the songs and the guitar sounds the same because we recorded it all at the same time, but with this, there will be stuff that could have been on 'Post-Nothing' and then other stuff you'll hear and think, 'What the hell are these guys doing?'"

On 'Art Czars' the pair went with a cover of Big Black's blistering 'Racer X' -- as for what other tributes they have coming down the pipe, Prowse is tight-lipped. "The label doesn't even know," he admits. "The covers will be a bit over the map. What we're trying to do is pick songs that we really like and think are unique ideas for covers."

"We're not going to do 'Louie Louie' or something like that," he laughs. "We're going to do something that people haven't already covered to death and make it our own."

Prowse and bandmate singer-guitarist Brian King will have plenty of time to throw around possible ideas during the next few months. The noisy two-piece are climbing back into the tour van to take on Europe yet again. While the Vancouver resident is happy about Japandroids' busy schedule, he admits he wouldn't mind spending a few extra days at home with his live-in girlfriend.

"I've shared a bed more times with Brian this year than her," he says chuckling. "The ratio is like 5:1 at least."