If Montreal's Plants and Animals made it a goal to up the rock and roll ante with their latest release, LA LA Land - mission accomplished.
The album is full of surprises and wonder, starting with unfamiliar, up tempo guitar riffs on Tom Cruz, which pull back melodically into Swinging Bells.
This pattern of hitting you hard with accessible, singable and very danceable three-piece rock, followed by 'come-downs' continues throughout LA LA Land. This pattern makes the work unpredictable and emotional - something I know I will continue to reach for, especially when people stop in for din din. Track three, American Idol, which I hope Warren C. Spicer is serious about reveals that he wants to be '... your American Idol'. I'd watch. Warren would stick it to those sheep. Question though, who would he cover? Himself?
There's something special about Warren's voice. He transforms ordinary words into bright episodes full of open doors, which he kicks down to take his game that much further. This was also true for the bands live performance. He seemed to be barely opening is mouth, yet the enter venue was filled with this sweet sonic sounds. This was cool cause you could really be anywhere in the venue and hear them well.
Our BDM team travelled to Toronto to see P&A play a free show at the Horseshoe for the launch of LA LA Land.
While free shows can be slimy and smelly, they are wise choices for bands with an established and loyal following. Its also smart where MERCH sales go.
If a band holds a free album release show and the bar hits record lows in terms of sales one of three things have happened: One - a major flood (please listen to Cadence Weapon's After Party Babies for proof of this tragedy). Two - A major storm, usually involving snow. It happens, we are Canadian, and when the snow is unbearable we watch re-runs of Lost and Jeopardy in the comfort of our homes. Three - The new album sucks. This was not the case at the Horseshoe when Plants and Animals brought us track after glowing track.
Warren is backed by Matthew 'Woody' Woodley and Nicolas Basque. Nicolas Basques plays a unique guitar accompaniment over top of Warren's visceral vocals and gritty guitar rhythms. Basques plays a bass player role from time to time on the E and A strings, hits solos, rounds out vocals, and plays a bit of rhythm as well. This should be noted by up and coming bands. Sometimes a bass guitar can limit you to only PHAT or beefy sounds. Some blues guitars enable you to have the best of both worlds on stage, mind you with some pedal love. Basque's was able to keep it fairly simple and fill in multiple gaps that helped create diverse tones from track to track. P&A drummer, Matthew Woodley, also messes with your head over patterns and sequences that will make you drool.
Oh, and Warren's guitar I believe is a Godin. I say this because I just picked one up from a friend who is hustling to make a movie right now (Thanks Paul) and I'm in guitar heaven. I will look into this and see if it holds up. It would make sense for these guys to play Godin guitars though. They are made in Quebec, hand crafted, yadda yadda. p.s. I'm a sales rep for Godin.
Do yourself a major favour and buy LA LA Land, the new one from Montreal's Plants & Animals.
Go Habs Go!
woRd
- AJS | BDM
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