Plants And Animals: La La Land

Plants And Animals
La La Land
Secret City Records [2010]









Fire Note Says: Plant And Animals show off new sound.

Album Review:
Plants And Animals debut Parc Avenue [2008] was really overlooked (including by us) and after revisiting the record in preparation for the sophomore follow up La La Land, I was convinced I knew what I was in for. Avenue consisted of a much more acoustic folk approach, so I was surprised when La La Land completely expanded Plants And Animals sound by emphasizing the harmonies, glossing up the rhythms and featuring more guitars. This musical change brings some growing pains, as some tracks never reach their full potential and sort of leave you waiting for the big memorable moment. Unfortunately that moment never arrives and just transitions the listener into another song. Now before fans completely fret over La La Land there are plenty of redeeming qualities that come to the surface in the longer tracks on the album. It is here that Plants And Animals succeed by slowing things down and letting their bigger sound surround them instead of overtaking them. La La Land really does feel like a transition record that offers a new direction that the band themselves is still figuring out. With that said, this Montreal group is talented and even though this record may not be as captivating as their debut, it is solid enough to keep us excited for number three!

Key Tracks: "American Idol", "Undone Melody", "Game Shows"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Arcade Fire
Gomez
Great Lake Swimmers

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Secret City Records

-Reviewed by Sam DaMatta