LAND OF TALK

Pop quiz.

What do ARCADE FIRE, THE DEARS, THE STILLS, STARS, MALAJUBE, and THE HIGH DIALS all have in common?

Yeah, yeah, I know... the smarty-pantsed amongst you won't be challenged by that one at all. But for the dunce-capped amongst you: The groups above all hail from that Paris of North America -- Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Mais naturellement, vous peuplez avec dez chapeaux de mutisme!

Next question (en anglais, svp, vous fromage-mangeant singes de reddition): Does still-wet-behind-the-ears trio LAND OF TALK deserve to be mentioned with the rest of that rather estimable list?

According to any number of influential, in-the-know bloggers, the answer is already a decided "Oui!" But I'm reserving judgment, at least for the moment. After all, singer/guitarist ELIZABETH POWELL, bassist CHRIS McCARRON and drummer BUCKY WHEATON have only released one 7-song EP, APPLAUSE CHEER BOO HISS, thus far -- and one 7-song EP does not a legacy make.

That said, the fact that these folks have been drawing comparisons to such unimpeachable underground overlords as SONIC YOUTH, PJ HARVEY, and DINOSAUR JR. certainly bodes well for their eventual entry into the upper rooms of kewldom. And yes, you can ALMOST hear KIM GORDON crawling around the first couple songs below (though I hear more of an EDIE BRICKELL-meets-CAT POWER thing going on there).

You are, as always, free to decide for yourself. Viva la democratie! And: Viva Montreal!

LAND OF TALK on MySPACE.

LAND OF TALK talking to the land >>>

Mar 21 2007 8:00P/Beachland Ballroom/Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 22 2007 8:00P/Lawrenceville Moose/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mar 23 2007 8:00P/El Mocambo/Toronto, Ontario
Mar 24 2007 8:00P/Zaphod Beeblbrox/Ottawa, Ontario
Mar 25 2007 8:00P/Main Hall/Montreal, Quebec
Mar 27 2007 8:00P/Great Scott/Boston, Massachusetts
Mar 28 2007 8:00P/Bowery Ballroom/*SOLD OUT*/New York, New York
Mar 29 2007 8:00P/Princeton University/*STUDENTS ONLY*/Princeton, New Jersey

[MP3] "Summer Special"

[MP3] "Sea Foam"

BONUS TRACK >>>

[MP3] "Monsoon" [w/THE DEARS]