Plants and Animals are a Canadian indie-rock band from Montreal (featuring two members originally from Nova Scotia) which comprises guitarist-vocalists Warren Spicer and Nic Basque and drummer-vocalist Matthew Woody Woodley. Spicer and Woodley began playing together in various projects when still in their teens, joining forces with Basque upon moving to Montreal in the early 2000s. They emerged on the international scene in 2008 with their debut full-length album Parc Avenue, released on Secret City Records.
Career Plants and Animals' self-titled EP was released in 2003 via Ships at Night Records. In the fall of 2007, Plants and Animals released the four-song with/avec EP.Ben Rayner, "Thriving in their musical habitat; Plants and Animals trio cultivate first tendrils of fame ahead of debut". Toronto Star, February 17, 2008.
Their full-length debut Parc Avenue was released on February 26, 2008 in Canada and on March 25, 2008 in the United States.Michael Barclay, "Plants and Animals’ Parc Life", Exclaim!, February 19, 2008. It received much early attention for garnering a high 8.0/10 review from popular website Pitchfork. The album was recorded entirely on analogue tape and features string parts by Sarah Neufeld of Arcade Fire. It was shortlisted for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize,Patty Stewart, "Polaris lists finalists among summer's best music". Prince George Citizen, July 10, 2008. and was nominated for a 2009 Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year; the band were also nominated for New Group of the Year."2009 Juno Awards nominees". The Globe and Mail, February 3, 2009.
The band released their second LP, titled La La Land, on April 20, 2010.Jessica Lewis, "Plants and Animals: La La Land". Exclaim!, April 19, 2010. The album was recorded in both The Treatment Room in the band's hometown of Montreal and La Frette Studios outside of Paris, France.
Their third album, The End of That, was released on February 28, 2012.Alex Hudson, "Plants and Animals Roll Out Canadian Tour". Exclaim!, December 6, 2011. The trio spent nearly a year preparing a catalogue of songs before entering the studio.
Waltzed in from the Rumbling, their fourth full-length, was released on April 29, 2016.Stephanie McKay, "No worries gonna find Plants and Animals". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, June 8, 2016. In November they followed up with Passed Out from the Waltzing, an EP of B-sides from the album.Brock Thiessen, "Plants and Animals Share New B-Sides EP". Exclaim!, November 29, 2016.
In 2018 they released an expanded 10th anniversary edition of Parc Avenue, featuring several bonus tracks.Calum Slingerland, "Plants and Animals Treat 'Parc Avenue' to Expanded 10th Anniversary Reissue". Exclaim!, February 14, 2018.
Their fifth album, The Jungle, was released in October 2020.Brock Thiessen, "Plants and Animals Return with New Album 'The Jungle'". Exclaim!, June 23, 2020.
In 2022 Basque released the album Le soleil et la mer with his side project Bibi Club.Dave MacIntyre, "Montreal, meet Bibi Club, the king and queen of living room party music". Cult MTL, March 2, 2023. In 2024, Spicer released an album with the side project Unessential Oils.Alex Hudson, "Plants and Animals' Warren Spicer Announces Debut Album as Unessential Oils". Exclaim!, February 20, 2024. Woodley frequently records and tours with Canadian singer-songwriter Basia Bulat.
Discography
Studio albums Parc Avenue (2008) La La Land (2010) The End of That (2012) Waltzed in from the Rumbling (2016) The Jungle (2020)
EPs Plants and Animals EP (2003) With/Avec EP (2007) Passed Out from the Waltzing (2016)
Singles Year Song Chart peak AlbumCANAlt2012 "Lightshow" 29The End of That "Why & Why" 36 "—" denotes a release that did not chart.
Appearances in the media Plants and Animals' single "Bye Bye Bye" was available for free download on iTunes for a week in late August 2009. The song was featured on season three episode 13 of the TV show Chuck.
"The End of That" plays at the end credits for Joe Swanberg's film Drinking Buddies.
"Lightshow" was featured on the soundtrack for The Lifeguard.
References
External links Plants and Animals official website Plants and Animals at CBC Radio 3