Japandroids mix-up that blurry, punked post-Lync sound on “Heavenward Grand Prix,” a mid-tempo track that might remind you of slightly older (to say, younger) Thermals in its half-spoken vocal approach. Or, if you want to go older older, the post-Honor Role Richmond-based Coral. Whatever your departure point, nice to hear them coming up for a breath. The song’s the A-Side from a single backed by a PJ Harvey cover. Any guesses on which Harvey?

• Japandroids – “Heavenward Grand Prix”Download

“Heavenward Grand Prix” b/w “Shame” (the PJ Harvey cover) is out 11/16 via Polyvinyl. You can pre-order it. They’re out on the road:

09/09 – Spokane, WA @ A Club
09/11 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (Musicfest NW)
09/14 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore *
09/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Music Box @ The Fonda *
09/17 – Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse Music Venue *
09/18 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern *
09/19 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar +#
09/20 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Jensen’s +#
09/21 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place +#
09/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge +#
09/24 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux +#
09/25 – Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo %
09/28 – Nelson, BC @ Hume Hotel ^+
09/30 – Banff, AB @ Wild Bill’s ^+
10/01 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room ^+
10/02 – Regina, SK @ Distrikt ^+
10/03 – Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid +
10/04 – Saskatoon, SK @ Louis’ Pub ^+
10/06 – Calgary, AB @ Republik ^+
10/08 – Victoria, BC @ Logan’s $+
10/09 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre $+
10/13 – Chicago, IL @ Metro *
10/14 – Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theatre*
10/15 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cabooze*
10/16 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room*
10/17 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre*
10/19 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck*
10/20 – St Louis, MO @ Off Broadway*
10/21 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar*
10/22 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre*
10/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero*
10/26 – Brooklyn, NY @ Death By Audio**
10/27 – Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s

* w/ The Walkmen
** w/ A Place To Bury Strangers
% w/ The Thermals
^ w/ Frog Eyes
+ w/ PS I Love You
# w/ Makeout Videotape
$ w/ Ladyhawk