Plajia - Beautiful Explosion
CD Review
Artist: Plajia
Album: Beautiful Explosion
Label: Orange Music
Released: November 2007 

Reviewed by Taryn Hubbard (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada)

Plajia's debut work Beautiful Explosion is not the kind of record you would expect to hear from your stereotypical indie band. With Patrick Pleau's voice ringing high above a tight sounding band, Plajia's new collection of pop songs sound nothing like The Strokes, Feist, or Metric. Okay, maybe a song like "God's Waiting in Line" is a little reminiscent of fellow Montrealers The Dears, but that's understandable. Who wouldn't want to sound a bit like The Dears? 

What makes Plajia a little more interesting and will keep you listening to their work more than once is their unique concoction of instruments. Eclectic electric guitars, layered voices, soft piano keys, and funky drums mark Plajia as a group of well-developed and mature musicians. Most songs are considerably up-tempo and full of easy-listening, sugary goodness.

The CD's title track "Beautiful Explosion" is a fun, summery pop song which takes some unlikely turns. On first listen, the track seems all over the place and cluttered, but after a few listens it quickly becomes the CD's most played track. "Beating Charms" has a definite Brit-pop sound to it, sprinkled with Bob Marley style "One Love" lyrics. While their lyrics do not demand as much attention as their melodies, their songs do a good job of flowing from one and other to make Beautiful Explosion a cohesive listening experience.  

Beautiful Explosion might not be the only CD you'd want to be stuck on a deserted island with, but for a listen or two on a summer day, you'll get what you asked for and more.

Track List:

1.    Dummy

2.    God's Waiting in Line

3.    Sleeping

4.    Beautiful Explosion

5.    Crazy Lovely Happiness

6.    A Love Song for Everyone

7.    Meet Me in Hong Kong

8.    Beating the Charms

9.    This House

10. Is that the End?

11. The Other Life of Squared Pixels