Plajia, "Beautiful Explosion," Mp3 Review 

What do you get when you combine an infectiously happy melody, fresh lyrics, and an unexpected musical twist? You get Plajia's smash title track, "Beautiful Explosion," off of their Beautiful Explosion CD.

From the very beginning, the energy of this tune pulls you in. It's upbeat, catchy, and I absolutely love the lyrics. Singer Patrick Pleau belts out confidently, "Fly down, hit bounds from Rockefeller, I slip a water balloon. It took like fifty seconds to get their New York heads wet and surprised." Pleau's delivery is captivatingly in your face, demanding that the listener become a part of the music.

Plajia says their sound was inspired by 60's and 70's icons spun into a more progressive form. The early influences are subtly noticeable and enjoyable. However, to the credit of the band, Plajia certainly has taken these influences and woven them into an impressively unique sound of their own. This performance caught my attention in seconds and has kept me coming back for more.

At the heart of the recordings on their CD is a solid rock trio featuring Pleau (vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, and harmonica), Paco Laviolette (drums, percussion, and backing vocals), and Simon Boivin (bass and backing vocals). The band has also recruited some great guest back-up vocalists and instrumentalists. Though the band line-up has changed since the release of Beautiful Explosion, I'm sure the new additions to the group really enjoy playing this tune.

What I like most about "Beautiful Explosion" is the unexpected musical shift in the middle of the song. The rhythm and timing change into something faster and completely different. From this break, the group manages to transition into a slick guitar instrumental and then back into the song's catchy beginning. I love the pop-sensibility, and I also love the unexpected changes. "Beautiful Explosion" is like being on a carnival ride in the dark. You don't know what's coming next, but it sure is fun.

Plajia's got a winner with the title track to their album, Beautiful Explosion. Keep an eye out for this Montreal-based trio. I'm sure you'll be hearing more about them.

Artist Website: www.plajia.com

Reviewed By: ListenersGeneration.com