Video: Plants And Animals - "The End Of That" Live At Mercury Lounge

Last week when we stopped in at Mercury Lounge to catch a blazing set from Plants and Animals, we also managed to get a video of the title track from their latest full length, The End Of That. We think you'll agree that it's a killer clip - check it out above!

Plants And Animals Played Mercury Lounge - Pictures, Review

Last night we stopped in at Mercury Lounge for Plants And Animals' second show in a two night New York run. Packed into the tiny room, the show was exactly what we had hoped for: a raucous celebration of rock and roll energy combined with a solid dose of musical wizardry and prowess. The band, who continue to reach new heights each time we see them, delivered a killer set for an appreciative crowd, and left us unquestionably hungry for more.

Since the last time we saw them the band have clearly been coming into their own with their new four piece lineup.  Whereas the show in Brooklyn last December showed a group feeling out the boundaries of having a full time bassist, last night was a full fledged exploration of the territories that such a foundation affords. Most of the time there were two guitars blazing in intertwined leads, and even when one went acoustic, the other still was a tour de force of pedal-driven sonic exploration. On top of all this, there was also the welcome addition of a Fender Rhodes, which lent texture to a number of tunes, including a reworked version of "Game Shows" that simply slayed.

One of the most interesting things about Plants and Animals' always-expanding live show is the way that it builds on all of their previous experience. When things change, it's not some abrupt shift. Rather, it's another iteration on a previously explored successful formula, now enhanced with new and meaningful nuance to explore some new facet of sound.  Last night's show unquestionably dipped its toe in the lake of "true" rock and roll.

Without question, the group has always been a rock band, but last night saw them take this vibe to new heights. The vocals were more aggressive and less choral, the arrangements were more foot stomping and the guitars more fuzzy, overall the band just clearly had the urge to rock. All of this was underpinned by the pieces that make Plants and Animals one of the best live bands today: The group have a rapport that is simply unbreakable, and makes for moments of practiced serendipity that never cease to delight.

For us, the highlight of the evening came with the performance of "Lola Who?". The track, which is culled from the band's Avec/With EP, is one of our all-time favorites. It's a sprawling epic that navigates its way through enough sounds that you feel like you've been on a trip for a week after listening. The band seldom plays the tune, and to hear it live, with the advent of their new lineup was, in short, mind blowingly awesome.

We'll be the first to say it: you'd be a fool not to catch up with Plants And Animals on this tour. If we had to guess by the packed house last night, this may be the tour where they begin to graduate to larger venues, and the opportunity to see them "up close and personal" gradually disappears. Whatever the case, the incentive to be at these shows is undeniable, because doing so means catching a band that is close to, if not at, their creative peak.

More photos at the HAD Archive

Plants And Animals Play Mercury Lounge Tonight

If you're anything like us here at HAD, then not only do you love Plants and Animals, but you've been seriously digging on their new record The End Of That. Not only is it some of the best songwriting the band's ever done, but it takes them in a whole new direction that is more centered on classic rock and roll, dueling guitars, and lyrical witticism. It is a record that is imminently replayable, but also ideally suited to the live environ.

Given that, as New Yorkers we couldn't be more excited that the band is playing a show tonight at Mercury Lounge. Not only do we get to see one of our favorite live bands (seriously, they fucking KILL it live), but we get to do so in a super intimate venue. It's the late show, so doors aren't untuil 9, and tickets are still available.  We'll see you out there, and in the meantime, enjoy the two official videos from the band's latest record, both of which are well worth your time.  Check them out below!

Plants And Animals Drop Another Track From Forthcoming Record

Plants and Animals at Bowery Ballroom, from the HAD Archive

It goes without saying that we here at HAD are stoked on the forthcoming Plants and Animals record.  The band has been on our "must play" list ever since they dropped their first full length in 2008, and as they've evolved, they've only gotten better.  Case in point: the newest track from their forthcoming The End Of That.

"Song For Love" embraces the more acoustic songwriter-y vibe that was hinted at in "Lightshow", and even more on display when the band played the Rock Shop on a rainy night in early December. But here's the thing: the band manages to embrace this more conventional aesthetic without eschewing the bits that make their music so distinctive and perfectly unique.  They rock out on the choruses, display utterly perfect technical chops, and create arrangements that are as compelling as they are perfect. In short, this record is fast proving to be another perfect step in the evolution of a band that is getting better by the day.


On top of the killer new track, we also managed to stumble over a killer HD vid for the band's cover of Wolf Parade's "I'll Believe Anything", which was the B-Side to "Lightshow".  If you've seen the band live then, as expected, you'll be psyched for this.  If you haven't, well, check the vid above and enjoy the magic.  Once you're done with that, check out the band's North American tour in support of the record, which starts early next month.

Plants and Animals Spring 2012 Tour 
8th Mar Ritual Nightclub Ottawa, ON
9th Mar Le Cercle Quebec, QC
10th Mar Le Cabaret du Mile End Montreal, QC
14th Mar St David's Church (SXSW) Austin, TX
17th Mar Spill Bar (SXSW) Austin, TX
20th Mar Lucky Bar Victoria, BC
21st Mar Rickshaw Theatre Vancouver, BC
22nd Mar The Crocodile Seattle, WA
24th Mar Mississippi Studios Portland, Oregon
27th Mar Starlite Room Edmonton, AB
28th Mar Republik Calgary, AB
Thu 29th Mar Amigos Cantina Saskatoon, Canada
30th Mar West End Cultural Centre Winnipeg, MB
31st Mar 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
4th Apr TT The Bear's Place Cambridge , MA
5th Apr Kung Fu Necktie Philadelphia, PA
6th Apr Red Palace Washington, DC
7th Apr Local 506 Chapel Hill, NC
8th Apr 529 Atlanta, GA
10th Apr Crowbar Tampa, FL
11th Apr The Social Orlando, FL
13th Apr The Bottletree Birmingham, AL
14th Apr Hi-Tone Cafe Memphis, TN
18th Apr Mercury Lounge New York, NY
19th Apr Mohawk Place Buffalo, NY
20th Apr APK Live London , Ontario
21st Apr Lee's Palace Toronto, ON
11th May Schuba's Chicago, IL
12th May The Frequency Madison, WI
15th May Hi-Dive Denver, CO
16th May Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT
18th May Bottom of The Hill San Francisco, CA
19th May Satellite Club Los Angeles , CA
21st May Casbah San Diego, CA
25th May Lambert's Austin, TX


mp3: Plants and Animals - Song For Love

Frightened Rabbit and Plants And Animals Coming To Terminal 5 In October

Plants and Animals at Bowery Ballroom, from the HAD Archive

As recently as last week, we mentioned that Plants and Animals were destined to play bigger and bigger rooms, and it seems we were right on target. In what is looking to be a live rendition of our Top Records of 2008, the band will be joining Frightened Rabbit at Terminal 5 on October 30th.

While we can't say we're exactly stoked that these bands will be in what is probably New York's most sonically vacuous concert hall, we can say that we think it will be a massively exciting bill to catch live. Both bands are incredibly passionate in the live environ, and to have them on the same stage, well, it should be one to write home about.

Tickets go on sale this Friday at noon.

Plants And Animals Played Bowery Ballroom - Pictures, Review

Last night we endured the rain to stop in and see one of our very favorite bands, Plants and Animals, play the biggest room we've seen them in to date: Bowery Ballroom. Frankly, we couldn't be happier we did - the band delivered an amazing set that not only demonstrated their consistently expanding musical palette, but also made a solid traversal of both of their (fantastic) records.

Openers Lost In The Trees hit the stage at 9 o'clock, and delivered close to an hour of intricate, exceptional musicianship. The set was an amalgam of an incredible array of styles, ranging from folk, to blues, to rock. Moreover, the band demonstrated an incredible ability to navigate the stylistic variations seamlessly as a unit.

That navigation included not only expert technical skills, but a fair dose of multi-instrumentalists, as at least half the band managed to switch instruments at least once during the set. Combine that with the band's closing, unmiked performance in the middle of the ballroom floor, and you've got yourself one hell of an enjoyable opening set.

Plants and Animals hit the stage a little after ten, and were immediately in top form as the band launched into an explosive version of "Undone Melody". However, the set was not to follow the La La Land dominated form of their April show at Union Hall. Instead, the band immediately delved into some Parc Avenue tracks with a fantastic version of "Good Friend".

The set continued in much that manner, ebbing and flowing between the band's records. The variation served not only to contrast the two, but also find the spots where they connect and share momentum. Apart, La La Land can seem a bit like its own beast, but when sharing a setlist, the sonic unity becomes much clearer.

The band has clearly been honing their craft even further on tour, and is expanding their sound and stage presence to account for growing venue size. We've always been blown away by Plants and Animals' interplay and ability to create epic rock music that seems far larger than a trio might indicate, but last night the band made it clear that they've taken their already impressive skills and ramped them up a notch. "Feedback In The Fields" was amazingly driven, and "Mama Papa" took the already rocking album version to a new level.

As the show came to a close, Lost In The Trees joined the band on stage to sing an epic chorus of "Bye Bye Bye" that made it seem as though that might be it - it seemed somewhat un-toppable. Yet anyone who thinks as much would be naive: the band quickly returned to play the most epic and frenetic version of "Mercy" that we've ever heard. Convincing the crowd to join in on the chant of "M-E-R-C-Y", Plants and Animals left us with absolutely no doubt that they're more than ready to take on the world, and frankly, we can't wait.

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive

Plants and Animals Played Union Hall: Pictures, Review, Setlist

Last night at Union Hall, we were lucky enough to drop in on a last minute, super intimate show from Plants and Animals. Seeing the trio in such a small room was really a blast, and their energy (and noise) seriously threatened to overflow the small underground room. As the band hammered through a one hour set, they not only got us even more excited for their new record, but also demonstrated why we continue to keep talking them up as one of the most dynamic live bands today.

The set was a quick one, and consisted almost entirely (save for "Faerie Dance") of tracks from the band's second full length La La Land, which drops next Tuesday. Hearing the songs live definitely served to enhance their dynamics considerably, and really drew attention to how solid the songwriting is on the tracks. Moreover, hearing some of the live arrangements (particularly the transition from "Swinging Bells" to "American Idol") served to give the songs context outside of the scope of the record.

More importantly, the set thoroughly illustrated that the band has been anything but lax since the release of Parc Avenue. They have managed to craft a set of songs that have their own identity, and a life that goes beyond the (admittedly awesome) sounds of their first records. Specifically, the band have further embraced their rock influences, and crafted songs that are more straight-ahead in their tone and demeanor, yet still contain the eclecticisms that made the first record so fantastic.

All the songs in the world won't do anything without live chops, however, and Plants and Animals are unquestionably a live act to the core. Put simply, they deliver so much energy and enthusiasm in the live environment that it's almost impossible not to be completely engaged with the music making that takes place on stage. The trio has continued to become more and more musically connected, and at this point they interact less like individuals, and more like a single musical organism.

As the band wrapped up "Faerie Dance", there was clear audience demand for another tune, but the venue (sadly) turned up the house music and left everyone in attendance slightly confused. Luckily for us, this show was just the tip of the iceberg, and the band will be playing another show at the Bowery Ballroom on June 9th. We would be remiss if we did not tell you, dear reader, that you really, really, should be in attendance.

Setlist

--

Tom Cruz

Undone Melody

Swinging Bells->

American Idol

Fake It

Celebration

Game Shows

Jeans Jeans Jeans

Faerie Dance

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive

Plants And Animals Drop Video For "The Mama Papa"

After last night's show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, we were digging around for another fix of some new Plants And Animals. Success was ours to be had, as the band has just delivered a video for the super fantastic tune "The Mama Papa". You can check the vid (and the awesome new tune) above - it's a bit of an epic take on a film noir magic show, with the band joining in on the fun. Can. not. wait. for. this. record.

mp3: Plants And Animals - Tom Cruz

Broken Bells and Plants And Animals Played Music Hall Of Williamsburg: Pictures, Review

Unexpected duo James Mercer of the Shins and Danger Mouse have made an excellent album as Broken Bells, but after seeing them live at Music Hall of Williamsburg last night, it finally made sense as to why they've clicked so well.

Before they took to the stage, however, we were psyched to discover that Plants and Animals would be opening the show! Long a fave here at HAD, not only did the band deliver a rock solid set, but they also brought a bunch of material from their new record out to play. Needless to say, we were more than a little enthused, and can't wait to catch them when they return in a headlining slot.

Soon after, Broken Bells made their way on stage. Now, note: these are not your typical rock stars. They’re both stoic and serious-minded on stage. No frills. No showboating. Rather than yearning to be the center of attention, they seem to want to get out of the way of the music. In fact, the entire set was played in front of a trippy looped video-art projection, leaving the band in the dark practically the whole time. Only venturing from behind the drums for a few songs, Danger Mouse seemed elusive – and Mercer downright shy.

If the music wasn't so hypnotic and well-executed, the show might have felt underwhelming. It was very short, even though they played all ten songs from the album. For the encore they covered Neil Young’s "Don't Let it Bring You Down" and Tommy James and the Shondells’ "Crimson and Clover". Then Mercer said, "Okay, let's get a drink," and that was that. Still, it’s hard not to admire these guys. The show left us with the urge to throw on our good headphones and listen to the album again and again, which is exactly what we're going to do.

Words and Pictures by Chris Goldberg.

More pictures at the HAD Archive.

Plants And Animals Expand North American Tour To The US

Plants and Animals at the Rickshaw Stop, from the HAD Archive

It seems today is turning out to be a day of us playing catch up on our favorite Canadian bands' tour schedules. After catching Caribou's upcoming tour plans, we also noticed that Plants and Animals had fleshed out their previously announced Canadian dates to now include the US. What does that mean for you? Well, if you're in New York there's a date tonight opening for Broken Bells, as well as a show at Bowery Ballroom at the end of the tour. In San Francisco there's a show at The Independent. And well, if you're in between, from the looks of things there's probably something pretty near by to you as well.

It's no secret that we're pretty big fans of Plants And Animals here at HAD, and with the added bonus of having a record of new material to play with, we're guessing that this tour is going to be pretty killer. Translation: do. not. miss.

mp3: Plants And Animals - Tom Cruz

Plants And Animals North American Dates Spring 2010
Mar 10 Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn, New York
Mar 12 Lee’s Palace (CMW Billion’s Showcase) Toronto, Ontario
Mar 13 CMW Indie Awards at the Royal York Hotel Toronto, Ontario
Mar 17 SXSW - CIMA BBQ, Brush Square Park Austin, Texas
Mar 18 SXSW - Pop Montreal, Lovejoy Austin, Texas
Mar 18 SXSW - Soundcheck Magazine, Emo’s Annex Austin, Texas
Mar 19 SXSW - Official SXSW Showcase Billions, Antone’s Austin, Texas
Mar 20 SXSW - Under the Radar, Emo’s Annex Austin, Texas
Mar 20 SXSW - Brooklyn Vegan/M for Montreal, Galaxy Room Austin, Texas
Apr 21 Theatre le Petit Champlain Quebec City, Quebec
Apr 22 La Tulipe Montreal, Quebec
Apr 23 Babylon Ottawa, Ontario
Apr 24 The Red Dog Peterborough, Ontario
Apr 26 Varsity Theatre Minneapolis, Minnesota
Apr 28 West End Cultural Centre Winnipeg, Manitoba
Apr 29 Amigo’s Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Apr 30 Starlite Room Edmonton, Alberta
May 1 The Legion Calgary, Alberta
May 2 Habitat Kelowna, British Columbia
May 4 ugar Nightclub Victoria, British Columbia
May 5 The Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, British Columbia
May 13 Grog Shop Cleveland, Ohio
May 14 The Basement Columbus, Ohio
May 15 Lincoln Hall Chicago, Illinois
May 16 The Waiting Room Omaha, Nebraska
May 18 Larimer Lounge Denver, Colorado
May 19 Kilby Court Salt Lake City, Utah
May 20 Neurolux Boise, Idaho
May 21 Mississippi Studios Portland, Oregon
May 22 The Crocodile Seattle, Washington
May 25 The Independent San Francisco, California
May 26 The Cellar Door Visalia, California
May 27 Troubadour Los Angeles, California
May 29 Plush Tuscon, Arizona
May 31 Hailey’s Denton, Texas
Jun 1 mo’s Austin, Texas
Jun 4 Backbooth Orlando, Florida
Jun 5 he Earl Atlanta, Georgia
Jun 6 rey Eagle Asheville, North Carolina
Jun 7 Rock N Roll Hotel Washington, D.C.
Jun 8 Johnny Brenda’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jun 9 Bowery Ballroom New York, New York
Jun 12 T.T. The Bear’s Boston, Massachusetts

New Plants And Animals On Tap For April, Spring Tour Hits Canada and SXSW

Plants and Animals have been one of our faves here at HAD ever since we laid ears on their killer record Parc Avenue. Given that, we were more than a little excited to hear that their new full length, La La Land (cover above), will make its way into our eager little hands on the fine date of April 20th, 2010. As a group that's unquestionably staking out their own sound, Plants and Animals have continued to be a go-to band for us - put differently, their record ages extremely well.

The first track to emerge from the record is entitled "Tom Cruz" (below), and continues perfectly where the last record left off. It's a killer rock tune, an epic sprawling masterpiece, and more than anything, a solid lesson in the fine art of arrangement and production. The percussion and melody are expertly interspersed to a point where the risky transitions and innovative composition manage to reveal their complexity and sound completely natural at the same time.

Plants and Animals at The Rickshaw Stop, from the HAD Archive

In addition to the new record, the band will also be taking their fantastic live show on the road, with a spring tour that traverses much of their native Canada. As for US dates, thus far only South By Southwest has found a place on the band's calendar, although we have to guess that will change as the record's release grows near. Frankly, the only thing that has us more excited than the new record is the prospect of hearing new tunes live, so all in all this is very, very exciting.

Plants and Animals Spring 2010 Dates

Mar 12 Lee’s Palace (CMW Billion’s Showcase) Toronto, Ontario
Mar 13 CMW Indie Awards at the Royal York Hotel Toronto, Ontario
Mar 17 SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 18 2SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 19 SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 20 SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 21 2SXSW Austin, Texas
Apr 21 Theatre le Petit Champlain Quebec City, Quebec
Apr 22 La Tulipe Montreal, Quebec
Apr 23 Babylon Ottawa, Ontario
Apr 24 The Red Dog Peterborough, Ontario
Apr 28 West End Cultural Centre Winnipeg, Manitoba
Apr 29 Amigo’s Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Apr 30 Starlite Room Edmonton, Alberta
May 1 The Legion Calgary, Alberta
May 2 Habitat Kelowna, British Columbia
May 4 Sugar Nightclub Victoria, British Columbia
May 5 The Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, British Columbia

mp3: Plants and Animals - Tom Cruz

pictures: Plants and Animals at the HAD Archive

Plants And Animals Played Bottom Of The Hill - Pictures, Review, Setlist

Let us start by saying this: Every time we see Plants and Animals we are even more impressed. Every time we tell someone to see Plants and Animals, they're impressed. Any time we give someone the band's record they're blown away. In short, this band is amazing. Both on the record and in a live environment, Plants and Animals are completely on the verge of breaking through even bigger than they already have. Last Saturday at Bottom Of The Hill was no exception.

The band has something of a musical trifecta in the live environment: their songs are ridiculously catchy, their technique and tightness as a band is completely expert, and their performance is balls-to-the-wall, heart-on-sleeve goodness. In short, the band are such a tight knit unit that the already impressive performance on record is enhanced significantly further in the live environment, which is saying a lot.

The band manages to demonstrate their technical aptitude with intricate instrumentation and song deliveries that border just on the right side of "jammy". Don't get us wrong, there's nothing that feels even remotely self indulgent about the extended tunage - on each and every song it feels just right, and gives each one enhanced depth and relevance. The fact of the matter is that the band knows just how to stretch their material (and the audience) to the outer limits, and then expertly pull things back in.

Saturday also saw three new songs make their way into the set, and all were totally fantastic. From the sound of things, the band is pushing a bit more into a straight ahead rock feel for the next record. That being said, it was still rock run through the Plants and Animals filter, and it yielded a sound that was simultaneously upbeat, exciting, and pushing creative boundries. In short, it left us psyched for the things to come.

It's a bit difficult to describe a band that you enjoy this much without starting to sound like some teenage fan who wants to have their babies. That being said, we're willing to take that risk because, frankly, we want to make sure that you don't miss this band the next time you have the opportunity. Their live show is simply so transcendent, ass kicking, and amazing, that it's really unparalleled.

What's more, we'll put a prediction on the table. The band has played San Francisco three times in the last year, at Rickshaw Stop, and Bottom of the Hill twice (once as opener, once headlining). We'd wager that the next year will be your last chance to catch these guys in small clubs. Once that second record drops and all hell breaks loose, it's gonna go bigger and bigger. We could be wrong, but don't say we didn't warn you.

Setlist
--
New Song
Good Friend
New Song
Feedback In The Field
À L'orée Des Bois
New Kind Of Love
New Song
Mercy
Faerie Dance
Bye Bye Bye
--
Guru

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive

Plants And Animals Plot Tour, Returning To Bottom Of The Hill

Picture from the HAD Archive

The last we heard from Plants And Animals (aside from our 2008 best-of list) was in an opening slot at Bottom Of The Hill last October. We said it then, and we'll say it now: this is not a band that should be in an opening slot. They simply deliver so solidly, and bring so much to every live show, that putting them anywhere but as headliners is a waste.

Well, clearly others agree with us: after rounding out the winter with a few more opening slots, the band has planned a new headlining tour that crosses the US over the course of March. For San Francisco, that means a headlining slot at Bottom Of The Hill on March 14th. For the rest of you, well, see below.

We're secretly hoping this new tour will be accompanied by some new material, but even if it's more of Parc Avenue, well, we'll still be extremely pleased. So psyched.

mp3: Plants And Animals - Guru (YouSendIt, click through)

Plants and Animals Winter/Spring 2009 Dates:
Jan 21 2009 UPEI - The Wave w/ Wintersleep Charlottetown, Prince Edward
Jan 22 2009 UNB - SUB Cafeteria w/ Wintersleep Fredericton, New Brunswick
Jan 23 2009 University of Moncton - (C.E.P.S.) w/ Wintersleep Moncton, New Brunswick
Jan 24 2009 Club One w/ Wintersleep St. John’s, Newfoundland
Jan 28 2009 Axe Lounge w/ Wintersleep Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Jan 29 2009 The Marquee Club w/ Wintersleep Halifax, Nova Scotia
Jan 30 2009 The Marquee Club w/ Wintersleep Halifax, Nova Scotia
Feb 27 2009 Bowery Ballroom w/ Blitzen Trapper New York, New York
Feb 28 2009 Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Blitzen Trapper Brooklyn, New York
Mar 1 2009 DC9 Washington, Washington DC
Mar 2 2009 Johnny Brenda’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mar 3 2009 Is Venue Charlottesville, Virginia
Mar 4 2009 The Earl Altanta, Georgia
Mar 6 2009 The Mohawk Austin, Texas
Mar 7 2009 Hailey’s Denton, Texas
Mar 9 2009 Modified Phoenix, Arizona
Mar 10 2009 Casbah San Diego, California
Mar 12 2009 The Echo Los Angeles, California
Mar 14 2009 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, California
Mar 16 2009 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon
Mar 17 2009 Nectar Seattle, Washington
Mar 18 2009 Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, British Columbia
Mar 19 2009 Habitat Kelowna, British Columbia
Mar 20 2009 Starlite Room Edmonton, Alberta
Mar 21 2009 Marquee Room Calgary, Alberta
Mar 23 2009 Louis Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Mar 24 2009 Park Theatre Winnipeg, Manitoba
Mar 26 2009 The Frequency Madison, Wisconsin
Mar 27 2009 Schubas Chicago, Illinois
Mar 28 2009 Pike Room at the Crofoot Pontiac, Michigan

HAD's Top Eleven Of 2008

Yes, eleven. At the end of the day, we just couldn't bring ourselves to pare it down to ten, and what's the point of normalcy, anyway? Instead we decided to just give you the unfettered list of our favorite records of the year, count be damned.

This list is really our best effort to point out the records that caught our attention, and held on to it for a good long time. There are lots of other great records out there, but these are the discs that stayed with us through the year. On headphones and speakers, at home and on the road, these are albums that not only held our attention, but also changed our perspective on music and opened our eyes to a new perspective.

1. Frightened Rabbit - Midnight Organ Fight:
To anyone who's a regular reader of HAD, this record's place at number one should come as no surprise. We're simply addicted to it, in every sense of the word. The desperate vocals, the layered guitars, the outstanding songwriting, and the clever lyricism - all of them contribute to make Frightened Rabbit's latest our number one record of the year. Some pigeonhole it as emo or depressing, but we're of the opinion of their missing the humor behind the record. Its songs are a shot at the unbelievable nature of love and life in the modern world, and struggling to find some semblance of reason amongst the chaos.

 2. Plants And Animals - Parc Avenue:
This Canadian trio hit us out of the blue with a record that captures so many elements that it's painfully hard to characterize, aside from the fact that it's very, very, good. The album's tracks contain a vast range of styles, rhythms, and melodies. More than anything, they serve to lay a foundation for a band that is clearly adept at doing whatever they please. From the anthemic opener "Bye Bye", to the record's frenetic closer "Guru", this album simply begs to be listened to on repeat - what's hiding in the nooks and crannies gives more and more with each listen.

 3. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular:
Sure, it's debateable as to when this record came out. If you're a "when did the public get it" purist, then sure, it was released in digital form last year. For us, though, the record hit the streets in January, and a release is a release. But enough about technicality: this record is rock and roll brilliance. An amazingly clever tongue and cheek look at disillusionment in the face of commercialism and social norms. It's a record about finding your own way, discovering yourself, and wondering what on earth people are doing following the crowd. It doesn't hurt that the melodies are ridiculously catchy and memorable, and that Dave Friddman did a fantastic job with the production duties. The whole record comes together to be a pop masterpiece that also manages to take a stab at everything and anything conventional.

4. Evangelicals - The Evening Descends:
It's difficult to pull of experimental psychedelica in a way that's accessible to your average listener. It's even more difficult to dose that experimental psychedelica with just enough pop sensibility that your record transcends genre and defines you completely. On this record, that's exactly what Evangelicals have done: the album is a cacophonic dose of measured chaos that seems almost incomprehensible, but at the same time demands that the listener sing (or at least attempt to sing) along. Every time we pop in this disc, we have to smile at its amazing ability to unite melody with off the wall production - this is the sound of people having fun with music.

5. David Byrne And Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today:
To say that David Byrne and Brian Eno pose each other with inspiration is an understatement: the two have collaborated on some of the most influential and amazing records of the modern era. Given that, it makes sense that the music community at large was more than a little excited to see what this collaboration would yield: the experimentalism of My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts? The disjunct art rock of the Talking Heads? In the end, it was something different althogether: Byrne brought the influence of his recent work to the table, and Eno laid down some of his most song based work in years. The result is a record that has all the melodic and lyrical rewards of Byrne's solo career, with an underpinning of Eno's instrumentals that push Byrne ever so slightly back to the world of rock music - and it's a very good thing.

6. The Sea And Cake - Car Alarm:
Given its similarity in production and writing to last year's Everybody (our #1 of the year), it should come as no surprise to find this record in our top 10. Even the press release for Car Alarm name checked it as the clear successor to Everybody. The band was happy with what they were doing, happy to be on the road, and wanted to capture the sound for round two. In the end, they did exactly that: the album presents the same measured, well crafted pop, with some ever-so-slight tweaks that separate it from its sibling. The guitars are tougher, the percussion more varied, and the vocals more pointed. We're glad The Sea And Cake managed to get another disc out the door this quickly, and given the result we hope they don't slow down any time soon.

  7. The Heavenly States - Delayer:
It's a pretty unique experience to see a band three nights in a row, having never heard anything they've done previously.  In the case of The Heavenly States, that's exactly what happened: we caught them opening for Spoon on a killer 3 night run at the Fillmore, and were on board thereafter.  The band manages to take a degree of earnest lyricism and melody that doesn't always suit our fancy  (think Springsteen), and then temper it with just enough balls to the wall musicianship that all of a sudden we're perfectly happy to be earnestly rocking.  This record is loaded with infectious melodies, gorgeous guitar hooks, and most importantly, the soul of rock and roll.  We're waiting on the next one, States.

8. TV On The Radio - Dear Science, :
We've been fans of TVOTR since way back in their pre-album-release days, so this one was on our radar from the get go.  The thing is, while previous releases have always been great, this one takes it to a new level.  The band has managed to unify their sound in a way that perfects it, and the same time minimizes it.  Songs are more artfully layered, and the band seems less intent to be constantly firing on all cylinders.  Rather, this is a record with a solid ebb and flow, that comes together in the way a great record really should: it feels distinctly as though it should be enjoyed in one satisfying listen.  That isn't to say the record is without catchiness: the songs on the album hold their own, and frankly, it gets us thinking that TVOTR's next record could be the one that puts them solidly into the arena as both an artistic stalwart, and a favorite of the mainstream.  Next Radiohead, anyone?

9. Port O'Brien - All We Could Do Is Sing:
Port O'Brien, on their face, is something of a folk band:  many of their lyrics are sentimental, biographical, or downright excerpts from a story telling session.  Yet even in the face of all that folk sensibility, the thing that really wins us over is the fact that the band isn't afraid to rock.  Even this most sensitive moments are laced with something of an iron grip, and the band's live experience takes the album's rock sensibility and takes it to another level.  It's tough to think about them and not mention Neil Young in the same breath, except that Neil's voice (quite frankly) doesn't measure up to what Port O'Brien has to offer.   Judging by the band's live set, the next record will be a step further in the direction of searing rock and roll, but in the meantime, we're content to enjoy this gem any time we're looking for a taste.

10. Stephen Malkmus + Jicks - Real Emotional Trash:

This record's a tad difficult for us to even think of as an '08 release, as most of its songs had been heavily, heavily road tested by the time it came out.  That being said, this is a record that really needs to be recognized:  it's really the first time the Jicks have come together and released a solid record as a band.  2005's Face The Truth was clearly (and admittedly) a Stephen Malkmus basement project, that wore all the hallmarks of the singer and guitarist's idiosyncrasies.  By sharp contrast, Real Emotional Trash unifies the band (including newcomer Janet Weiss) under the guidance of Malkmus, and then allows them to truly shine.  We have to admit, we're a fan of anything Malkmus rolls out the door, so we're curious to see what the next record will bring.  Regardless of what it does bring, this record is a clear testament to the Jicks abilities, and the fact that they have graduated far beyond the simple moniker of "Stephen Malkmus' backing band".

11. The Walkmen - You And Me:
This record is the one that kept us from sticking to a simple "top ten", and with good reason: The Walkmen have released a record that manages to draw from (and learn the lessons of) every record in their catalog.  While many have hailed this release as a "return to form", we here at HAD are inclined to disagree.  While You And Me does contain many of the hallmarks of the band's first two records, it also contains a certain sensibility that is unquestionably reminiscent of the bands oft-criticized (and frankly, well-loved around here) release A Hundred Miles Off.  The band's ethereal, haunting rock has been solidly laced with a newfound pop sensibility, and what's more, many of the songs have managed to chip out a genre that is even more distinctively "Walkmen" than any of their previous releases.  In short, this is a record that realizes the promise of the band's greatness, but also manages to illustrate the journey it took to get there.

So, there you have it folks: Our top records of 2008!  Enjoy your New Year's, and we'll be sure to see you back here next Monday.  In the meantime, stay safe, and if you missed any of these records, get out there and grab them.  You wouldn't want to get behind with 2009 just around the corner!

Plants And Animals, Nurses, Born Ruffians Played The Bottom Of The Hill

Last night was a good night for music at The Bottom Of The Hill. Plants and Animals, along with Portland's Nurses and fellow Canadians Born Ruffians, played to a crowd that was highly appreciative of what each band had to offer.

Nurses opened the night with an extremely respectable set of psych-pop that centered around layered vocals, guitars and synth lines. There was definitely a hint of Animal Collective influence in the mix, but largely the band defined their sound and made it their own

Plants and Animals were up next, and for our money, this was the set of the night. The trio played a shorter set than when they were at The Rickshaw Stop, but it was equally full of energy and dynamics.

As a trio, this band does a masterful job at recreating the many layers of sound on their records. Much of this is due to the face that all three band members are technically masterful on their instruments: Nicolas Basque easily holds down 2-3 instruments over the course of a song, Matthew Woodley provides all sorts of percussive accents, and Warren Spicer's vocals and guitar simply slam home the band's energy.

The really amazing thing about Plants and Animals is that they leverage all of this well-honed technicality to create a show that seems completely reckless. The band's ability to keep a handle on things is so solid that the bursts at the seams, and yet never loses its place. In particular, the version of "Faerie Dance" last night was off the charts.

Born Ruffians certainly had the crowd rearing to go before their set, and once things got going the devout just got more excited. While the band was spot-on technically, and certainly roped in the crowd with an enthusiastic performance, it just wasn't our cup of tea.

The melodies were a bit simplistic, and the off-kilter beats seemed like they had been recycled from elsewhere. We're also pretty vocal-centric around here, and Luke Lalonde's vocals were a tad on the reedy side for our taste. Case in point: he covered a Dylan song ("The Man In Me") and actually managed to sound more reedy than Dylan. That's reedy, folks. Don't get us wrong: the band delivered a solid live set, and if you are digging their tunes, don't hesitate to see them live. They certainly deliver.

As we mentioned above, Plants and Animals were far and away the highlight for us last night. The other bands made good on their performances, but Plants and Animals are so evidently a band that is on the cusp of blowing up, that it was difficult to watch them leave the stage. We're psyched to have them back in San Francisco so soon after their last show, but we're hoping next time it will be as a headliner.