The band, comprised of guitarist-vocalists Warren Spicer and Nic Basque and drummer-vocalist Matthew Woody Woodley, began recording La La Land in late 2008 and finished it at Studio La Frette in Paris. “We got fat making the record but got skinny mixing it,” Spicer jokes on the bands site. After an attempt to hand off post-recording responsibilities, Spicer decided to go back to the mixing board himself. The result is a more mature sound that is reminiscent of Parc Avenue but infinitely more sound-indulgent.

Hear for yourself with “Tom Cruz,” “Swinging Bells,” “American Idol,” and “Undone Melody,” which are currently streaming at the La La Land album page. Additionally, the band has prepped a series of hilarious video clips that star actor and close friend Joe Cobden and feature most of the songs on the new record.

Right now, they’re promoting the new album with an ambitions music video for the song “The Mama Papa.” It’s one chaotic theatrical production, complete with finely attired ladies and gents, dialogue spoken in French, a sinister magician character, and a kid who causes some ruckus when it’s time to take a bath. Federico Fellini would have approved.

Plants and Animals will tour Canada this spring, in addition to making an appearance at SXSW. Further dates will soon follow.

03/12 Toronto, Ontario – Lee’s Palace
03/13 Toronto, Ontario – Royal York Hotel *
03/17 – 03/21 Austin, TX – SXSW
04/21 Quebec City, Quebec – Theatre Petit Champlain
04/22 Montreal, Quebec – Le Tulipe
04/23 Ottawa, Ontario – Babylon
04/24 Peterborough, Ontario – The Red Dog
04/28 Winnipeg, Manitoba – West End Cultural Centre
04/29 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Amigo’s
04/30 Edmonton, Alberta – Starlite Room
05/01 Calgary, Alberta – The Legion
05/02 Kelowna, British Columbia – Habitat
05/04 Victoria, British Columbia – Sugar Nightclub
05/05 Vancouver, British Columbia – The Commodore Ballroom

* w/ the Constantines and Great Lake Swimmers

It seems that during the interim between albums, the Montreal-based band stepped away from their warm folk sound and reacquainted themselves with that dear old friend, the electric guitar. At least that’s what a new track, “Tom Cruz,” indicates. The song streaming right now at the Secret City website and promises some fuzzed out and seriously amplified tunes for the new album.

And here is the artwork:

La La Land is out April 20 on Secret City.

Main image by Caroline Desliets.