
plants and animals , a trio of canadians whose first full length album, parc avenue , debuted earlier this spring, sound a bit like what you might expect from a fast-rising musical act out of montreal, only better. seriously. epic orchestration and rootsy songwriting, tight instrumentation, swells and surges and a puckish playfulness - basically we love it. and you will too. (note: no feral or stuffed animals were harmed during the shooting of the publicity photo at right.) (the band does seem to play off of the motifs of trapper & fur trader traditions, though the [...]

What? Music that isn't French? They're from Quebec, so give me a break. Plants and Animals have been running around North America opening for larger acts. They are known for really giving it their all in the their live act and leaving the crowd pretty worn out before the headliners. Its a bit of a change from whats usually featured here on Hifever. Those kids at Weaver would eat this stuff up. Bye Bye Bye A New Kind of Love

Howdy folks. We are just four short weeks away until the small town of Marysville on Wolfe Island (not to be confused with the other Marysville, which is located just east of Belleville) is invaded with some of the best bands around as the Wolfe Island Music Fest rocks and rolls for two days of awesomeness. Last year, my first, was stellar. With another great lineup, this year should be no different. Need a reminder of who is going to be there? ok, here it is: August 8th (8:30pm) The Town Hall Hootenanny [...]

For those unfamiliar, the Polaris Music Prize, in its third award season since its inception, awards "accolades" and a $20,000 payday to the single best Canadian album ( at least 8 songs and plus 30 minutes) of the last year. Any album released in-between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008 is eligible. this year's shortlist, with the winner to be announced September 29 th , is: Black Mountain - In The Future Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling [...]

Here are my favorite albums of the year to date, right after the halfway point. A few of them were actually released in 2007, but I didn't discover them until this year. Go check them out if you haven't heard them yet. The entire list is pretty damn awesome, with the caveat that this has been a bit of a letdown year after the brilliant releases of 2007. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer Download [...]

Plants and Animals is a band from Montreal that released their album Parc Avenue awhile back on February 26th here in Canada and March 25th to excellent review. They are currently on the long-list for the Polaris Music Prize for the top critically awarded album. Two bloggers are on jury ( I(heart)music and Chromewaves ) and while I may never get a sniff to be considered a "critic" I figure that reviewing more then a fair share of the top 40 should give me some idea of who is actually deserving in my opinion (we've [...]

Stumbled upon this MySpace missive from Panther (dudes are at Spaceland on Saturday; I recommend going to catch Plants and Animals and peacing out) and couldn't resist reposting: YOUTH CULTURE AND THE FASCINATION WITH THE 1980'S what the fuck is going on with this ongoing fascination with the 80's..bands co opting to the very last detail of synthy 80;s pop??,,,PANTHER played a show last night with this band, yelle from france,,,,they played well, but i cant help but notice, they had no identity?? then i saw graffiti on [...]

I saw a lot of bands last week, so I'll try to post about that later. This is another fantastic summer week for live music..... Monday 6/23/08 [Recommended] Afternoons / The Parson Red Heads / HT Heartache / Valentino @ Spaceland (Free) – Spaceland has been completely packed all month for the Afternoons residency. This week they're joined by the Parson Red Heads who bring in a good crowd too. Death Cab [...]

The cat references are getting better every week. This mix features some great new music from the Fleet Foxes and Plants and Animals, as well as my favorite song off of the Rushmore soundtrack (The Who). I also have a special treat for those readers who fancy themselves lyricists - I've been working on Hula Hands for a while but am frustrated by the lack of vocals. Feel free to download, sample and lay down a vocal track. I'll feature it in a post if you send me back your version. MP3s: J Dilla [...]

Roughly two months ago, Nicole Davis from Brooklyn Based (an essential newsletter focusing on Brooklyn's best food, art, services, shops and people - subscribe HERE ) got in touch and asked me to help create a mix of Brooklyn-based bands. It was a ton of fun and the resulting mix ( HERE ) turned out to be a great listen. Well, guess what..... we're back! Our second EAR FARM/Brooklyn Based collaboration is all about bands playing some of New York City's free outdoor concerts — SummerStage , Prospect [...]

Due to life and work getting in the way, it's taken me over a week to finally type up some thoughts about about the record club we held last week . However, it's also given me time to digest a lot of the feedback we got. First off, jds and I want to thank everyone who came to The Black Door to share some music. The turnout (about 25-30 people) was better than expected and everyone seemed to enjoy the night; myself particularly. It's always fun to share music with others and be turned [...]
DOWNLOAD: Plants & Animals - Faerie Dance (MP3) Plants & Animals @ SXSW 2008 Plants & Animals are back in NYC from Canada, and so are Rock Plaza Central . TONIGHT (May 16, 2008) Plants & Animals are playing at Mercury Lounge at 9pm and Rock Plaza Central is playing that benefit with the Mountain Goats . TOMORROW (May 17, 2008) both bands are [...]
Band: Plants and Animals From: Montreal, Quebec Sound: Lush, 70s AM rock gets sprawling, epic treatment with incredible results Similar Artists: Buffalo Springfield, Arcade Fire, My Morning Jacket, Loose Fur Listen Now: "Feedback In The Field" The picture says it all. As if the cover of Sgt. Pepper's came to life and had a hallucinogenic picnic in the backwoods of Middle Earth, the happening depicted above is about the most fitting visual representation of Plants and Animals that [...]

Tonight don't miss a great show at Floristree here in Baltimore featuring Noble Lake, Andy Abelow, Golden Ghost, and Viking Moses. In DC the Black Cat has a good one with Cobra Collective, Dennis Kane, and Once Okay Twice. In Philly you have three opitions. You could go to Johnny Brenda's to see Drug Rug, The Long Blondes, and Bamboo Shoots or you cold swing by the North Star Bar for Snowden and Colour Revolt or you could end up at the World Cafe Live to see Plants And Animals. mp3: Cobra Collective - Legionnaire -> [...]

photo by Caroline Desilets Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today's featured selection, chosen by Midday Show host Cheryl Waters, is Bye Bye Bye by Plants and Animals from the 2008 album Parc Avenue on Secret City Records . Plants and Animals - Bye Bye Bye ( MP3 [...]

Montreal's Plants and Animals have one of the best albums of the year so far in Parc Avenue (Secret City Records), an adventure that varies in tone and structure so much it is easy to get blissfully lost. In fact, by the time you've gone from opener "Bye Bye Bye," a piano pop number with big Queen type harmonies; to the smoked out hippified hooks of second song "Good Friend," the point will be well taken. Catch the band on tour in May and June. audio: Faerie Dance.mp3 [...]

Montreal's Plants And Animals recently released their debut album Parc Avenue . In a rare case of understated yet right-on-the-money music criticism that you don't need a PhD in indie rock to "get," Pitchfork wrote that the album is "a sprawling collection of rootsy melodies, majestic arrangements, and classic rock riffs that owes as much to jam-band psychedelia and it does to delicately orchestrated chamber-folk." Right on. Plants And Animals sure make a lot of sound for a three piece. They can soar [...]

Montreal, QC I know a lot of you may be hopeful that this song is a cover of *NSYNC. Unfortunately, it isn't... but it's still enjoyable! "Bye Bye Bye" Plants And Animals on MySpace Plants And Animals on The Hype Machine