At first blush, Vancouver musicians Brian King and David Prowse seem to be one of many bands subscribing to two near-ubiquitous trends in the current indie-rock underground: Yep, they're another two-person guitar-and-drums duo, and sure enough, they're steeped in the resurgent waves of '90s fuzz guitar a la Dinosaur Jr. and Mudhoney. But Japandroids are distinguished by an unusually sharp ear for winning melodies decorating their waves of six-string noise and propulsive drumming, and they have a thematic devotion to alienation--from the opposite sex, mostly, but also geographical and of the "I just wasn't made for these times" variety--that adds an urgent desperation and undeniable undertow to the proceedings.

Just try not to get sucked into songs such as "The Boys Are Leaving Town" or "Heart Sweats"; it's darn near impossible.