Plants and Animals’ Parc Avenue was one of the best albums of 2008, a stunning debut showcasing a dazzling array of folk-rock inspired tracks from the Montreal three-piece.
After rave reviews for Parc Avenue and relentless touring the band are back with La La Land, a more laid back and 70s West Coast influenced second album.
In some respects this detour is a slight disappointment as it moves the band out of the quirky territory of Parc Avenue and into the more retro but far less original realm of 70s-a-like bands such as Midlake.
Fortunately though this change in direction fits well enough around the classic rock feel of the band to ensure that La La Land is no dud, despite this lack of originality. And while the album dips towards the end and has a weak opening with the track ‘Tom Cruz’, it still has some real gems and improves with each listen.
The best is ‘Kontiki’, about the California motel, offering a reverb drenched riff with a Latin rhythm. The faster ‘The Mama Papa’ is another standout as is ‘American Idol’, about the nightmare world of TV talent shows. Saxophone comes in on this early Roxy Music influenced track and is a welcome addition on an album that is largely drums, bass and guitar.
Less good are tracks like ‘Game Show’, which is just forgettable. Others, such as ‘Swinging Bells’ and ‘Undone Melody’, can be firmly placed in the grower category.
Their time on the road and thoughts on North American culture are clearly an influence on the music and this album, which although never reaching the dizzy heights of Parc Avenue, is a solid follow up and shows a band that is still full of folk rock influences and vitality.
7/10
by Joe Lepper, Apr 2010
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