Lightshow
It’s truly a testament to how great Plants and Animals‘ Parc Avenue is when it still manages to eclipse its successor nearly four years after its release. Certainly, 2010′s La La Land was far from a bad album, but when put up side-by-side with Parc Avenue, it feel like a step in the wrong direction, or at least backwards– the nuanced, almost-orchestral folk sounds and razor-sharp vocal hooks that had defined the band up until that point were washed away with fury of cranked up guitars wandering in and out of their own sonic haze.
Still, the momentum of and universal love for that first record managed to keep pushing the band forward. They’re now preparing for the release of their third album, The End of That, for early next year, and already teasing out the first track to whet your appetite. After spinning “Lightshow” for what feels like hours, the best way I can describe it is as a track that just feels right. The unflinching guitar riff that’s cunningly simple, the infectious and punchy melody, the near-trademark rambling lyrics, all of it fits together in a way that makes the group so much more recognizable, making steps in a direction that feels natural following something like Parc Avenue.
The End of That will be making its way to fine retailers everywhere on February 28 via Secret City Records.
+MP3: Plants and Animals – Lightshow
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Ah Lightshow. Where have you been all my life.
Music like this just may get me through another Winnipeg winter. Good review as always.