The End of That

The End of That sees Plants and Animals bridging the gap between their 2008 debut, Parc Avenue, and 2010’s darker La La Land.

The band took a different, more relaxed approach with The End of That as opposed to their former sprawling, in-the-studio songwriting process; they decided to write and fully develop a large volume of material before setting the tape rolling and clock running. But whereas they spent more time than ever before preparing, they actually recorded and mixed The End of That faster than any other Plants and Animals record to-date (save perhaps their 2007 breakthrough, the brief with/avec EP). With their new songs fleshed out, the band returned to La Frette Studios, outside of Paris, and with the help and ear of engineer Lionel Darenne (Feist), wrapped up their sessions in two weeks. The end result is arguably Plants and Animals’ most live-off-the floor offering.

That also makes The End of That their most intimate record. While there’s no shortage of their catchy electric guitar riffs, as evidenced on lead single “Lightshow,” the album also showcases lead singer Warren C. Spicer on piano, and plenty of acoustic guitar—an early touchstone of the band that had been given a break on the last record. Fans of Plants and Animals’ early acoustic work will feel right at home with songs like "Before," "Song for Love" and the title track, while lovers of the band’s multi-part excursions won’t be disappointed either; side A and B of the album end and begin with their own respective anthemic monsters in "Crisis!" and "2010."

Spin premieres Plants and Animals' "Song for Love"

Over the years, Plants and Animals' knuckle-balling blend of indie rock has been a vibrant, constantly rewarding reminder of their hometown's mid-aughties moment. "Song for Love," a crispy, straight-to-tape monster from forthcoming full-length The End of That...provides yet another slice of proof.

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Nylon Mag on Lightshow

equal parts scuzzy overlays, yearning vocals, and choppy guitar riffs. It's the kind of song that makes me want to go camping, only so I can sing it around the campfire.

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Quick Before it Melts on 'Lightshow'

The more I listen to “Lightshow” the more I am seduced by its anthemic nature, its joie de vivre...I have myself the first song of 2012 that I will most definitely be including on the to-be-annual year end compilation

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Magnet on Lightshow

The track starts off with a foot-tapping electric-guitar riff and continues that same joyous, melodic sound until the end of the song, showing off the band’s maturity and joie de vivre.

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MTV Hive on "Lightshow"

Clocking in at a lean three and a half minutes, “Lightshow” is neither stripped-down or overblown — instead, it’s a perfect example of rock ‘n’ roll precision. “Lightshow” is that sort of big-time, anthemic rock song that says what it has to say in a half-dozen ways, and as hard as it may try, never goes out of style.

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Consequence of Sound - Lightshow

Punching into the Canadian band’s strolling folk rock are these warm, tall sips of guitar solos. They sound as if they’re conjured from the shag-carpet of an old 70′s studio — it’s palpable as shit. To that end, the folky elements aren’t shellacked together, and individual musicianship reverberates all through the track.

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"Lightshow" - KUT's Song of the Day

They’re proggy without being self-indulgent. They’re folky without being boring. They’ve got enough pop chops to keep even the most casual music fan’s ears glued to the stereo. ... On “Lightshow” Spicer sings like a man standing at a great precipice, staring down into the wet, gaping maw of indecision. His vocals are tender and vulnerable ... Contrasting Spicer’s vocal impasse is a big, sure-footed rhythm and strutting guitars. The discordant solo echoes fellow Canadian Neil Young’s fret work. It’s a song that is made great by its emotional complexity from a band that is great for being everything it’s not.

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Plants and Animals announce The End of That

Plants and Animals have announced their third full length album, entitled, The End of That. The record sees the Montreal trio of Warren C. Spicer, Nic Basque and Matthew Woodman Woodley bridging the gap between their 2008 debut, Parc Avenue, and 2010’s darker La La Land.

Check out the first single from the album, Lightshow.

Plants and Animals - Lightshow by SecretCityRecords

A North American tour was announced recently to support the new release, here are the upcoming dates, more to come:

12/07/11 Brooklyn, NY || The Rock Shop w/ Takka Takka, Balene
01/12/12 Chicago, IL || Schuba's w/ Herman Dune (Tomorrow Never Knows Festival)
03/08/12 Ottawa, ON || Ritual Nightclub
03/09/12 Quebec City, QC || Le Cercle
03/10/12 Montreal, QC || Cabaret du Mile-End
03/21/12 Vancouver, BC || Rickshaw
03/22/12 Seattle, WA || The Crocodile
03/24/12 Portland, OR || Mississippi Studios
03/27/12 Edmonton, AB || Starlite Room
03/28/12 Calgary, AB || Republik
03/29/12 Saskatoon, SK || Amigo's
03/30/12 Winnipeg, MB || West End Cultural Centre
03/31/12 Minneapolis, MN || 7th St. Entry